WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Senator Lindsey Graham, a longtime ally of Donald Trump, criticized on Sunday the president’s pardon of about 1,500 of his supporters who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, saying it could lead to more violence.
Graham said that while Trump had the legal authority to issue the pardon, “I think it was a mistake to pardon people who walked into the Capitol and violently beat a police officer. Because he seems to be suggesting that’s OK.”
As a result, “I’m afraid you’re going to get more violence,” Graham, who sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.”
Trump supporters serving prison terms for their involvement in the attack were freed after Trump approved the pardon on Monday, his first day in office. Some of those freed were fans who attacked police officers.
The general pardon drew condemnation from the mob-fighting police, their families and lawmakers, including some of the president’s fellow Republicans.
Graham also criticized Trump’s predecessor, Democrat Joe Biden, for issuing last-minute pardons to five family members and said Americans may want to question the president’s pardon powers if such actions continue.
“But as far as pardoning violent people who beat up police officers, I think that’s a mistake,” he said.
A Florida man who was among those pardoned was arrested Wednesday on federal gun charges, according to court documents.
Daniel Charles Ball (NYSE: ) has been charged with possession of a firearm or ammunition as a convicted felon, according to an indictment filed in the US District Court for Central Florida.
