Trump is preparing to pardon those accused of the January 6 attack, a Reuters source said
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – President Donald Trump is preparing to issue sweeping pardons to defendants accused of attacking the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and intends to reduce sentences for some people who attacked police, a source familiar with the matter said. Monday.
The source did not provide details on when Trump plans to do so.
The plan, first reported by ABC News, calls for pardons for those who did not commit violence during the Capitol riots, effectively erasing the legal consequences of their convictions.
Trump is also seeking commutation of sentences for some of those convicted of attacks on police, a move that would not exonerate them but could lead to the release of some of the rioters currently in prison.
More than 1,580 people have been criminally charged for their involvement in the riots, a failed attempt by Trump supporters to block congressional certification of the 2020 election.
Leaders of far-right organizations Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are among those serving time in federal prison for their roles in the violence. More than 600 people were charged with assaulting or obstructing police during the riots, according to the US Department of Justice.
During his 2024 campaign, Trump promised to pardon many of the accused, arguing that they had been treated unfairly by the legal system.
