US President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 of his followers who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an attempt to reverse the 2020 election results.
Just hours after taking office, Trump ordered that all ongoing criminal proceedings against Capitol riot suspects be dismissed.
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, was among those pardoned. He had been sentenced to 22 years in jail for orchestrating a military-style attack on the Capitol.
Stewart Rhodes, head of another far-right organization, the Oath Keepers, had his 18-year jail term shortened to time served. Both Tarrio and Rhodes were convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Describing the rioters as “hostages,” Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants.
“We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” he said.
A total of 1,583 people were charged in connection with the assault on Congress by Trump supporters seeking to disrupt the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s election victory.
Throughout his presidential campaign, Trump regularly promised to pardon individuals involved in the attack, referring to them as “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
Trump, whose first term as president ended under the cloud of the Capitol attack, has consistently downplayed the bloodshed on January 6, even referring to it as a “day of love.”
More than 140 police officers were hurt after hours-long fights with rioters using flagpoles, baseball bats, hockey sticks, and other homemade weapons, as well as Tasers and bear spray canisters.
