Trump ally calls pardoning violent rioters a ‘dangerous precedent’
US Senator Lindsey Graham warns that granting extensive clemency to the January 6 Capitol protesters may undermine public trust and lead to legal reforms. Read Full Article at RT.com.
TroibNews 
US Senator Lindsey Graham has expressed concerns regarding President Donald Trump’s decision to issue pardons to individuals convicted of violent acts during the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, citing potential long-term repercussions.
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order that granted clemency to approximately 1,500 people associated with the Capitol unrest. Graham remarked on CNN that pardoning those who assaulted police officers conveys “the wrong signal to the public at large.”
One notable individual pardoned was Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia, convicted of seditious conspiracy in 2022 and who received one of the longest prison sentences among January 6 defendants. He was incarcerated at a federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland before his release, which has attracted criticism from legal experts and lawmakers. They argue that this decision may embolden extremist groups.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and a longtime ally of Trump, is troubled by the implications of broad pardons. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it on either side. And I think the public doesn’t like it either,” he stated.
He further warned that excessive clemency could erode public trust in the presidential pardon power, noting that “If this continues, if this is the norm, there may be an effort to rein in the pardon power of the president as an institution.”
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to pardon those charged in connection with the January 6 events. However, this large-scale executive action has received a variety of responses.
Supporters maintain that the pardons address what they see as political persecution, while opponents argue they undermine the rule of law. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the pardons, asserting that each case was examined individually to ensure fairness. He acknowledged his previous opposition to pardoning violent offenders but argued that the decision is a response to possible miscarriages of justice.
The January 6 Capitol assault saw Trump supporters breach security barriers in Washington, DC, aiming to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory. While some protesters acted peacefully, others engaged in violence against police officers and inflicted damage on property.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
On January 20, Trump signed an executive order that granted clemency to approximately 1,500 people associated with the Capitol unrest. Graham remarked on CNN that pardoning those who assaulted police officers conveys “the wrong signal to the public at large.”
One notable individual pardoned was Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia, convicted of seditious conspiracy in 2022 and who received one of the longest prison sentences among January 6 defendants. He was incarcerated at a federal prison in Cumberland, Maryland before his release, which has attracted criticism from legal experts and lawmakers. They argue that this decision may embolden extremist groups.
Graham, a Republican from South Carolina and a longtime ally of Trump, is troubled by the implications of broad pardons. “I don’t like this. I don’t like it on either side. And I think the public doesn’t like it either,” he stated.
He further warned that excessive clemency could erode public trust in the presidential pardon power, noting that “If this continues, if this is the norm, there may be an effort to rein in the pardon power of the president as an institution.”
During his 2024 presidential campaign, Trump pledged to pardon those charged in connection with the January 6 events. However, this large-scale executive action has received a variety of responses.
Supporters maintain that the pardons address what they see as political persecution, while opponents argue they undermine the rule of law. Vice President J.D. Vance defended the pardons, asserting that each case was examined individually to ensure fairness. He acknowledged his previous opposition to pardoning violent offenders but argued that the decision is a response to possible miscarriages of justice.
The January 6 Capitol assault saw Trump supporters breach security barriers in Washington, DC, aiming to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential victory. While some protesters acted peacefully, others engaged in violence against police officers and inflicted damage on property.
Aarav Patel for TROIB News
