Repercussions of Trump's Jan. 6 pardons expand across Capitol Hill
Trump's attempts to downplay the violent assault have sparked new conflicts and debates in Washington's ongoing four-year examination of the event.
TroibNews 
Donald Trump attempted to erase the events of the Jan. 6 riot through his pardons, yet his actions—along with Republicans forming a subcommittee to revisit the issue—have brought it back into the limelight.
As Republicans embark on a two-year initiative to revisit the violent assault on the Capitol, they remain tight-lipped about Trump’s decision to pardon some of its most notorious perpetrators, many of whom judges consider to be ongoing threats to society.
Democrats are outraged and anxious, fearing that those who sought to inflict violence upon them have suddenly been absolved. However, they are also cautiously optimistic that Republicans’ choice to remind the public of the violence might result in a political backlash during the midterm elections. Capitol Police are fuming—both quietly and openly—over the release of their assailants.
This situation unfolds as courts continue to manage the dismissal of numerous Jan. 6 criminal cases due to Trump’s directive, which complicates matters for defendants involved in separate offenses, such as evidence tampering or evading justice.
In essence, Trump’s attempt to erase the violent incident has sparked new conflicts and debates in Washington’s ongoing reckoning with the attack on its political center. While Trump’s inauguration may have abruptly halted many criminal cases related to Jan. 6, it has also ignited renewed scrutiny of the implications of his influence in a Trump-led America.
Democrats were taken aback on Wednesday when former Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who had his 18-year prison sentence commuted by Trump for conspiring to violently disrupt Congress’ role in the power transfer, casually entered the Capitol complex. There, he relaxed in a Dunkin' Donuts and spoke with reporters, seemingly enjoying his notoriety in the same location that was under siege.
"My only regret is they should have brought rifles," Rhodes said in a Jan. 10, 2021 recording showcased at his seditious conspiracy trial in 2022. "We should have brought rifles. We could have fixed it right then and there. I'd hang fucking Pelosi from the lamppost."
Reports indicated that several Republican lawmakers welcomed Rhodes with a meeting.
“It’s just incredibly sad that this is someone who House Republicans feel should be welcomed in this building,” stated Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic caucus, “someone who doesn’t support the rule of law, someone who actively worked against the peaceful transfer of power in our country.”
Democrats are also raising alarms about growing security fears following the pardons. They pointed out that some individuals granted clemency were considered too dangerous by the courts to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, with others remaining incarcerated due to judges’ concerns regarding their threat level.
“This campus is less safe because of the pardons Donald Trump exercised,” Aguilar emphasized, noting that the danger also extends beyond Congress to the communities where violent offenders reside.
Judges who sentenced Jan. 6 defendants have expressed concerns that a lack of accountability for an assault on the democratic process could encourage future political violence. They believe it could foster the notion that offenders will avoid consequence as long as they support winning candidates.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson warned on Thursday that Trump’s broad dismissal of Jan. 6 cases undermines "the manifest public interest in upholding the rule of law" and would "dishonor" the law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol.
“They are the patriots. Patriotism is loyalty to country and loyalty to the Constitution – not loyalty to a single head of state,” the Obama-appointed judge wrote. “No stroke of a pen and no proclamation can alter the facts of what took place on January 6, 2021. When others in the public eye are not willing to risk their own power or popularity by calling out lies when they hear them, the record of the proceedings in this courthouse will be available to those who seek the truth.”
The ambiguity surrounding the scope of the Republican initiative to reinvestigate Jan. 6 adds to the uncertainty. Speaker Mike Johnson claimed not to focus "backward" when discussing Trump’s pardons but quickly contradicted himself by committing to closely examine the work done by the Democrat-led Jan. 6 select committee, which found that Trump was primarily responsible for the chaos incited by his supporters.
Trump has criticized the committee, baselessly alleging that its members should be prosecuted for destroying evidence. In a preemptive move during his final days in office, former President Joe Biden granted pardons to the committee’s members and staff.
Democrats have expressed willingness to engage in the new Republican-led examination of the Jan. 6 events, though Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that his caucus would likely reject it if framed as a politically motivated endeavor.
“If it is a select committee to whitewash the events of Jan. 6 as it relates to a violent mob that clearly attacked the Capitol and police officers… then it's not something that we will support,” the New York Democrat remarked.
Among the cases Trump ordered dismissed was that of Garret Miller, a Texas man who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 and received a 38-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to various felony and misdemeanor charges. Unlike most Jan. 6 defendants, Miller also admitted to threatening Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweeting “assassinate AOC” on the evening of the attack.
Ocasio-Cortez expressed her worry that Trump’s move to dismiss Miller's case could provoke “retaliation.”
“He definitely tried to target me,” she noted.
Miller’s attorney acknowledged that the dismissal stemmed from Trump’s actions, but he asserted that the lawmaker has no need to fear reprisal.
“Mr. Miller has long recognized that his comments about the Congresswoman were completely inappropriate,” said attorney Clint Broden. “Unfortunately, he was caught up in the rhetoric of January 6 at the time he made those statements and has now had time to reflect upon his actions. While Mr. Miller understands the Congresswoman's concerns, she has no need to worry about any acts of retaliation from him.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
As Republicans embark on a two-year initiative to revisit the violent assault on the Capitol, they remain tight-lipped about Trump’s decision to pardon some of its most notorious perpetrators, many of whom judges consider to be ongoing threats to society.
Democrats are outraged and anxious, fearing that those who sought to inflict violence upon them have suddenly been absolved. However, they are also cautiously optimistic that Republicans’ choice to remind the public of the violence might result in a political backlash during the midterm elections. Capitol Police are fuming—both quietly and openly—over the release of their assailants.
This situation unfolds as courts continue to manage the dismissal of numerous Jan. 6 criminal cases due to Trump’s directive, which complicates matters for defendants involved in separate offenses, such as evidence tampering or evading justice.
In essence, Trump’s attempt to erase the violent incident has sparked new conflicts and debates in Washington’s ongoing reckoning with the attack on its political center. While Trump’s inauguration may have abruptly halted many criminal cases related to Jan. 6, it has also ignited renewed scrutiny of the implications of his influence in a Trump-led America.
Democrats were taken aback on Wednesday when former Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who had his 18-year prison sentence commuted by Trump for conspiring to violently disrupt Congress’ role in the power transfer, casually entered the Capitol complex. There, he relaxed in a Dunkin' Donuts and spoke with reporters, seemingly enjoying his notoriety in the same location that was under siege.
"My only regret is they should have brought rifles," Rhodes said in a Jan. 10, 2021 recording showcased at his seditious conspiracy trial in 2022. "We should have brought rifles. We could have fixed it right then and there. I'd hang fucking Pelosi from the lamppost."
Reports indicated that several Republican lawmakers welcomed Rhodes with a meeting.
“It’s just incredibly sad that this is someone who House Republicans feel should be welcomed in this building,” stated Rep. Pete Aguilar, chair of the House Democratic caucus, “someone who doesn’t support the rule of law, someone who actively worked against the peaceful transfer of power in our country.”
Democrats are also raising alarms about growing security fears following the pardons. They pointed out that some individuals granted clemency were considered too dangerous by the courts to attend Trump’s inauguration on Monday, with others remaining incarcerated due to judges’ concerns regarding their threat level.
“This campus is less safe because of the pardons Donald Trump exercised,” Aguilar emphasized, noting that the danger also extends beyond Congress to the communities where violent offenders reside.
Judges who sentenced Jan. 6 defendants have expressed concerns that a lack of accountability for an assault on the democratic process could encourage future political violence. They believe it could foster the notion that offenders will avoid consequence as long as they support winning candidates.
U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson warned on Thursday that Trump’s broad dismissal of Jan. 6 cases undermines "the manifest public interest in upholding the rule of law" and would "dishonor" the law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol.
“They are the patriots. Patriotism is loyalty to country and loyalty to the Constitution – not loyalty to a single head of state,” the Obama-appointed judge wrote. “No stroke of a pen and no proclamation can alter the facts of what took place on January 6, 2021. When others in the public eye are not willing to risk their own power or popularity by calling out lies when they hear them, the record of the proceedings in this courthouse will be available to those who seek the truth.”
The ambiguity surrounding the scope of the Republican initiative to reinvestigate Jan. 6 adds to the uncertainty. Speaker Mike Johnson claimed not to focus "backward" when discussing Trump’s pardons but quickly contradicted himself by committing to closely examine the work done by the Democrat-led Jan. 6 select committee, which found that Trump was primarily responsible for the chaos incited by his supporters.
Trump has criticized the committee, baselessly alleging that its members should be prosecuted for destroying evidence. In a preemptive move during his final days in office, former President Joe Biden granted pardons to the committee’s members and staff.
Democrats have expressed willingness to engage in the new Republican-led examination of the Jan. 6 events, though Leader Hakeem Jeffries indicated that his caucus would likely reject it if framed as a politically motivated endeavor.
“If it is a select committee to whitewash the events of Jan. 6 as it relates to a violent mob that clearly attacked the Capitol and police officers… then it's not something that we will support,” the New York Democrat remarked.
Among the cases Trump ordered dismissed was that of Garret Miller, a Texas man who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6 and received a 38-month prison sentence after pleading guilty to various felony and misdemeanor charges. Unlike most Jan. 6 defendants, Miller also admitted to threatening Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, tweeting “assassinate AOC” on the evening of the attack.
Ocasio-Cortez expressed her worry that Trump’s move to dismiss Miller's case could provoke “retaliation.”
“He definitely tried to target me,” she noted.
Miller’s attorney acknowledged that the dismissal stemmed from Trump’s actions, but he asserted that the lawmaker has no need to fear reprisal.
“Mr. Miller has long recognized that his comments about the Congresswoman were completely inappropriate,” said attorney Clint Broden. “Unfortunately, he was caught up in the rhetoric of January 6 at the time he made those statements and has now had time to reflect upon his actions. While Mr. Miller understands the Congresswoman's concerns, she has no need to worry about any acts of retaliation from him.”
Thomas Evans contributed to this report for TROIB News
