Sharing the Facts About Pardons for January 6th Rioters

The January 6th attack was the violent result of a months-long criminal conspiracy to overturn an election, undermine the will of the American voters, and block the peaceful transfer of power.  

It caused very real, tangible harm. Nine Americans died in connection to the attack. 140 law enforcement officers were injured in the line of duty. And rioters caused millions of dollars of damage. More than 1,200 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty in federal court for actions that broke the law and deserve accountability. 

President Donald Trump has said he will “most likely” issue pardons to at least some of the attackers who were present at the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.  In fact, reporting suggests these pardons will be some of his first actions under his new administration.

However, Americans overwhelmingly oppose pardons for people who committed violent crimes while storming the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.  

Here are some key takeaways about pardons for those convicted for participation in the January 6th attack, to help remind people of the serious crimes committed that day and the threat to democracy it posed: 

• The people who stormed the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 caused real harm. Their actions resulted in the death of nine Americans, injury to nearly 150 law enforcement officers, and millions of dollars’ worth of damage. More than 1,000 individuals have been convicted for those crimes. 

• There are consequences for breaking the law. People who chose to break the law on Jan. 6 – especially those who contributed to the chaos and violence – must be held accountable for their actions.  Without consequences, we risk more political violence in the future. 

• Americans overwhelmingly oppose pardons for January 6 crimes, especially for people who participated in violence against law enforcement officers.  That’s true of Republicans, Democrats, and independents. Americans are committed to a safe democratic process.   

• Political violence in the United States is unacceptable. As Americans, we resolve our political differences by voting. That’s why it’s so important to keep our elections free, fair, and safe.