In one of his first actions as the 47th President of the United States, Donald Trump granted full pardons to over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots.
Announcing the decision on Monday, Trump referred to the defendants as “hostages” and emphasized his commitment to granting them freedom. 
“We hope they come out tonight, frankly,” Trump stated during a White House signing ceremony.
The pardons include high-profile figures such as Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, and Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers, whose sentences for seditious conspiracy have been commuted to time served. Both groups played significant roles in the assault on Congress.
The move has drawn strong criticism from Democratic leaders, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“It is shameful that the president has decided to make one of his top priorities the abandonment and betrayal of police officers who put their lives on the line,” Pelosi remarked, calling the decision an “outrageous insult to our justice system.”
Trump defended his decision by describing the rioters as “patriots” and “political prisoners” during his campaign.
He argued that their actions were fueled by grievances over what he has repeatedly claimed was a stolen election.
Meanwhile, the Biden administration, before leaving office, issued preemptive pardons to several prominent figures, including Anthony Fauci and Liz Cheney, in anticipation of potential legal actions under Trump’s presidency.
