Trump pardons over 1,500 Jan. 6 protesters

President Donald Trump on Monday evening signed an order pardoning an estimated 1,500 Jan. 6 protesters.

On Monday at noon, Trump was sworn into office, shortly before heading to the Capital One Arena to sign a slew of executive orders. The president later moved to the Oval Office, where he signed a number of additional orders, including one stating he would grant an estimated 1,500 “full, complete and unconditional pardons” to those charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack.

“What they’ve done to these people is outrageous,” Trump said. “We hope they come out tonight. Frankly, they’re expecting it.”

Throughout his campaign, the president vowed to review the cases of those involved in the attack, stating in May 2023 that he planned to pardon a “large portion” of those federally charged.

Approximately 1,583 defendants in total were federally charged in connection with the incident, according to the Department of Justice. Among those charged, 608 defendants faced accusations of assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder. Another 174 defendants were charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer.

In December, Trump was again asked about his plan for the Jan. 6 protesters, telling NBC’s Kristen Welker that he intended to review “individual cases.” With over 600 defendants sentenced to incarceration, a fraction of the protesters remain behind bars and are in the custody of the federal Bureau of Prisons, according to NBC News.

The move from the president comes only hours after former President Joe Biden issued last-minute pardons to nine former members of the January 6 Select Committee, including former Republican Wyoming Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger of Illinois.

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