Donald Trump signed an executive order granting pardons and commutations to over 1,500 individuals convicted or charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
The sweeping move has generated strong reactions, with some praising the gesture as a step toward national reconciliation, while others condemn it as an affront to justice.
The pardon applies to the majority of those involved in the violent storming of the Capitol building by Trump supporters as Congress gathered to certify Joe Biden’s election victory.
According to figures from the U.S. Department of Justice, approximately 1,583 individuals have been charged in connection with the attack.
More than 600 of these have faced serious charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers, obstructing justice, and using dangerous weapons during the riot.
In a signing ceremony held in the Oval Office, Trump declared, “These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon, full pardon. This is a big one.”
He went on to emphasize his belief that the legal actions taken against those involved in the riot were “outrageous” and that the pardons would correct a “grave national injustice.”
Among those benefiting from the executive action is Stewart Rhodes, founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers.
Rhodes, who directed a group of militia members during the attack but did not enter the Capitol building, had been sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023 for his role in organizing the riot. His sentence was commuted, allowing him to be released from prison, though his conviction remains on record.
Trump’s decision to pardon the rioters has sparked backlash from key political figures, including former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who was forced to flee the Capitol building during the attack.
“This is an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress, and the Constitution,” Pelosi said in a statement.