Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York called President Donald Trump's decision to pardon more than 1,000 people involved in the January 6, 2021 riots “un-American.”
Schumer told reporters Tuesday that the pardons are “deeply un-American,” noting that some of the pardoners have been convicted of crimes such as seditious conspiracy.
“President Trump's January 6th pardon of defenders of terrorist activity is nothing short of un-American,” Schumer said. “It's very un-American to do something like that, to pardon people. And let me be clear, President Trump didn't just pardon protesters; he pardoned police officers. He pardoned individuals convicted of violent crimes. He pardoned individuals convicted of seditious conspiracy. And he pardoned those people who sought to undermine our democracy. It's the people. ”
President Trump on Monday night signed pardons for nearly 1,500 defendants charged with crimes stemming from the riot at the U.S. Capitol, keeping his December pledge to act quickly and pardon them.
Biden slams Trump, saying he was a 'real threat to democracy'
On Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025, President Donald Trump will sign a pardon for the January 6 defendants in the Oval Office of the White House. (Carlos Barria/Reuters)
Additionally, on Monday, he commuted the sentences of six people, including leaders of the extremist groups Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
Schumer echoed sentiments shared by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., about pardons. Pelosi characterized the pardon as “shameful” and said she would remember the “courage” of law enforcement “heroes” who “guaranteed the survival of our democracy.”
Pelosi, who did not attend Trump's inauguration on Monday, said: “The president's actions are a tribute to our nation's justice system and to the heroes who have suffered physical scars and emotional trauma defending our Capitol, our Congress, and our Constitution. It's an outrageous insult.” Statement posted on X.
The Justice Department is seeking a blockade in January. Six defendants who attended President Trump's inauguration
In addition to pardons, President Donald Trump commuted the sentences of six people on January 20, 2025, including leaders of the extremist groups Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. (Reuters/Carlos Barria)
“It is shameful that the President has chosen to make the abandonment and betrayal of police officers one of his top priorities, risking their lives to thwart attempts to subvert the peaceful transfer of power,” Pelosi wrote. Ta.
During the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, rioters assaulted approximately 140 officers from both the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department, the Department of Justice reported.
Nancy Pelosi condemns President Trump's 'shameful' pardon of defendant on January 6th
President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it during an indoor inaugural parade event in Washington, Monday, January 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
President Trump on Monday announced plans to pardon “hostages” people charged with involvement in the Capitol attack.
“Tonight, I'm going to sign autographs for the J6 hostages. Please allow me to release them,” Trump said during his inaugural parade at Capital One Arena. “I'm going to go to the Oval Office and sign pardons for a lot of people.”
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
President Trump signed a series of executive orders on Inauguration Day, along with the pardon. Other directives included the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris climate accord, which the U.S. first signed in 2015 under former President Barack Obama's administration but withdrew from during President Trump's first term. .
