Trump grants full clemency to capitol riot defendants, announces other reforms

In a sweeping and controversial move on his first day back in office, President Donald Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of all 1,500-plus individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.

Among those granted clemency were individuals convicted of assaulting police officers and members of far-right extremist groups found guilty of seditious conspiracy.

The unprecedented action nullifies the largest Justice Department investigation in U.S. history, which sought to hold perpetrators accountable for the attack that injured over 100 police officers and disrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.

Trump described his decision as a step toward healing the nation, calling the prosecutions “a grave national injustice.”

In a statement issued hours after his swearing-in, Trump said the pardons would begin “a process of national reconciliation,” framing the rioters as “patriots” that were wrongfully targeted by a politically motivated Justice Department.

The pardons, which included full and unconditional clemency for over 1,450 individuals and commutations for 14 others, sparked sharp reactions across the political spectrum.

Trump’s supporters, including lawyers for the pardoned individuals, celebrated the action as a victory for justice. Outside the D.C. jail where several defendants were held, small crowds gathered late Monday night in jubilant celebration.

James Lee Bright, an attorney for Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes—who was serving an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy—praised Trump for his decisiveness. “We are deeply thankful for President Trump’s actions today,” Bright said.

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Nayib Hassan, attorney for Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, said Tarrio’s release marked “a turning point for our nation.” Tarrio, who had been serving a 22-year sentence, was expected to be freed as early as Monday night.

Democratic leaders denounced the move as a dangerous undermining of justice and an affront to law enforcement.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called the mass pardons “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who risked their lives defending the Capitol.”

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Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer echoed Pelosi’s concerns, accusing Trump of enabling lawlessness. “Donald Trump is ushering in a golden age for people who break the law and attempt to overthrow the government,” Schumer said.

Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who was severely injured during the attack, expressed deep frustration. “This is what the American people voted for,” Fanone said. “How do you react to something like that? They’re cowards—emboldened by mob mentality.”

The Justice Department’s investigation into the Capitol riot had resulted in more than 1,200 convictions, with over 700 individuals serving time behind bars.

Charges ranged from misdemeanor trespassing to violent assaults on law enforcement, with some rioters armed with weapons such as flagpoles, knives, and firearms.

While many defendants faced severe consequences, Trump’s pardons dismantled those efforts overnight. In addition to releasing convicted individuals, the president ordered the attorney general to dismiss more than 450 pending cases.

The January 6 attack, widely regarded as one of the darkest days in modern U.S. history, was captured extensively on video and through testimony.

Despite overwhelming evidence presented in trials, Trump has sought to reframe the events as a protest against electoral injustice.

The decision to pardon the rioters is expected to reignite debates over accountability, the rule of law, and the legacy of January 6. It also comes weeks after the Justice Department dropped its criminal cases against Trump, citing the policy against prosecuting a sitting president.