US Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley of Oregon announced they have joined 47 of their Senate colleagues to introduce a resolution condemning the pardons of individuals found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police Officers on January 6, 2021.
The resolution follows the move by President Donald Trump -- on the first day of his second term -- to grant full and unconditional pardons to more than 1,500 people charged with committing crimes in the January 6th attack on the US Capitol, and to commute the sentences of 14 others -- including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers -- along with other far-right militia groups.
Among those pardoned by Trump were 169 people who pled guilty to assaulting police officers on January 6th. During the siege of the Capital that day, more than 80 US Capitol Police Officers were assaulted along with 60 officers from the Washington, DC, Metropolitan Police Department.
Wyden said "Trump encouraged that assault four years ago and last week acted shamelessly to rewrite this bloody history by throwing open the prison gates and letting these violent criminals walk free out on the street." He said "Congress cannot let this unprecedented attack go unchecked."
Merkley said "President Trump's day one priority in office was to pardon the insurrectionists who stormed the US Capitol and assaulted police officers in a failed attempt to upend the peaceful transfer of power." He added that "these shameful pardons disrespect the rule of law, our democracy itself, and the brave men and women serving in law enforcement across America."
