Several Republican senators are roundly criticizing President Donald Trump’s pardons of Jan. 6 rioters — particularly those convicted of violent crimes, like assaulting law enforcement officers.
“I’m disappointed to see that and I do fear the message that is sent to these brave men and women that stood by us,” said Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) echoed that sentiment, saying there was a difference between those “caught up in the crowd who did not commit a violent act” and those who committed violent crimes, like destroying property or assaulting officers, who should not be pardoned.
Many of the Republicans expressing dismay at Trump’s actions were the usual suspects — more centrist senators and those who had voted to convict Trump during an impeachment trial over his role in stoking the Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021. But more mainstream Republicans also made clear that they were unhappy, like Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota saying he would “not defend” Trump’s decision. Several were quick to also condemn the actions of former President Joe Biden, who had given preemptive pardons to his own family members shortly before he left office.
“Anybody who committed violence, like the violence in Kenosha and the violence in Portland before them, should be in prison — period, full stop,” said Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), “That segment of pardons — I’m as disappointed as I am with all the pardons that Biden did.”
“Neither action builds confidence in our Justice Department,” Collins added.
He drew a distinction between the pardons of the rioters with convictions for violence crimes with “boneheads caught up in the moment that after the building was breached that didn’t see the police officers being crushed.”
Trump on Monday pardoned about 1,500 people who had taken part in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol insurrection and commuted the sentences of fourteen people. He’d also directed the Justice Department to drop the 470 ongoing criminal cases against Jan. 6 defendants.
“It’s not right. People who assaulted police officers — if they do the crime, they should do the time,” said Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). He, Collins and Murkowski had all voted to convict Trump in early 2021.
Even Vice President JD Vance had previously said those who committed violence on Jan. 6 “obviously” shouldn’t receive a pardon, though those who had “protested peacefully” should receive one. Former Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell, who publicly criticized Trump after the attack but voted against convicting him, did not respond to a question from a reporter about the pardons.
But top Republican, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), chair of the Judiciary Committee, pivoted: “Everybody’s asking about Jan. 6, aren’t you going to ask me about the Biden pardons?”
