Donald Trump, the U.S. president-elect, has pledged to issue sweeping pardons for many of his supporters convicted or charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

In a striking declaration during an interview on NBC News’ Meet the Press, Trump painted those imprisoned as victims of a corrupt and broken judicial system, vowing swift action upon taking office. This decision, however, comes amidst a backdrop of heated political debates over presidential pardons, including President Joe Biden’s recent controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, which has drawn sharp criticism from the Right Wing.

Trump confirmed his intent to pardon hundreds of individuals implicated in the Capitol riots on “day one” of his presidency, framing their incarceration as unjust and inhumane.

“They’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open,” Trump said, describing the conditions of their detention. He characterized the legal process as coercive, claiming many pleaded guilty under duress, fearing disproportionately harsh sentences.

“I know the system. The system’s a very corrupt system,” Trump said. “They say to a guy, ‘You’re going to go to jail for two years or for 30 years.’ And these guys are looking, their whole lives have been destroyed. For two years, they’ve been destroyed. But the system is a very nasty system.”

His proposed pardons would encompass a wide range of cases, including those who admitted to attacking law enforcement officers. Trump qualified, however, that he might exclude individuals who were “radical” or “crazy.”

As of now, over 1,500 people have been charged for their roles in the Capitol attack, leading to 1,250 convictions or guilty pleas. Among them, 645 individuals have been sentenced to prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years. Prominent cases include members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers convicted of seditious conspiracy, among others involved in violent and destructive acts.

A Familiar Pattern of Pardons

Trump’s plan to pardon January 6 rioters is not unprecedented. During his first term, Trump exercised his clemency powers liberally, often to benefit allies and individuals with close political or personal ties.

• Roger Stone, a longtime adviser, was convicted of lying to Congress, obstruction, and witness tampering during the Russia investigation. Trump commuted his sentence in July 2020 before issuing a full pardon later that year.
• Paul Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, was pardoned in 2020 after being convicted of financial fraud and witness tampering charges stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.
• Michael Flynn, Trump’s former national security adviser, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russia. Trump pardoned Flynn in November 2020.
• Steve Bannon, a former Trump strategist, was pardoned in 2021 after being charged with defrauding donors in a fundraising campaign to build a U.S.-Mexico border wall.

Trump has been often accused of using the pardon power as a political weapon, rewarding allies and undermining the judiciary. His latest announcement to pardon the January 6 rioters appears consistent with his past use of clemency as a tool to bolster his political base.

Hunter Biden’s Pardon

Trump’s announcement also comes just days after President Joe Biden issued a pardon for his son, Hunter Biden, who had pleaded guilty to federal tax charges. The pardon has sparked significant backlash from Republican lawmakers and conservative commentators, who allege a double standard in the application of justice.

Hunter Biden’s legal troubles, including allegations of tax evasion and false statements regarding a firearm purchase, have been a lightning rod for Republican criticism. GOP leaders argue that the pardon undermines accountability and erodes public trust in the justice system.

“President Biden insisted many times he would never pardon his own son for his serious crimes,” Johnson said on X. “But last night he suddenly granted a ‘Full and Unconditional Pardon’ for any and all offenses that Hunter committed for more than a decade!”

He added, “trust in our justice system has been almost irreparably damaged by the Bidens.”

Right-wing media outlets have drawn parallels between Hunter Biden’s pardon and Trump’s plans, suggesting that both moves politicize the justice system but serve opposing ideological ends.

Trump’s proposed pardons have already drawn condemnation from various quarters. Legal experts warn that such actions could set a dangerous precedent, undermining accountability for acts of political violence.

Rep. Liz Cheney, a former member of the House committee investigating January 6, criticized Trump’s comments as baseless and harmful.

“There is no conceivably appropriate factual or constitutional basis for what Donald Trump is suggesting,” Cheney said. She added that his rhetoric risks further eroding the rule of law and emboldening extremism.

Cheney and other committee members have faced Trump’s ire. He accused them of “destroying evidence” and called for criminal investigations into their actions. Trump specifically singled out Cheney and Rep. Bennie Thompson, the committee’s former chair, alleging they committed “a major crime.”

Trump’s Vision for the DOJ

Trump’s approach to the Department of Justice under his new administration remains contentious. While he expressed grievances against FBI Director Christopher Wray for overseeing the Mar-a-Lago raid, Trump insisted he would allow his appointees—Attorney General pick Pam Bondi and potential FBI Director Kash Patel—to act independently.

Although Trump previously promised to investigate President Biden, he now claims he is “not looking to go back into the past” and will focus on “success” rather than retribution. However, his comments leave open the possibility of politically charged investigations should Bondi and Patel pursue them.

However, the announcement of mass pardons for January 6 rioters, coupled with his history of pardoning allies, suggests Trump is prepared to use executive clemency as a political tool once again. This approach, however, comes with significant risks, including the compounding national divisions, undermining judicial authority, and emboldening individuals who may view political violence as justified.