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Republican President-elect Donald Trump has indicated his intention to extend clemency to certain supporters involved in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, which aimed to obstruct Congress from certifying President Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 election.
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Trump has stated that he anticipates initiating this process soon after his inauguration on January 20, although he has not specified how many of the over 1,580 individuals charged in connection with the incident may receive clemency. The following information outlines key details.
Trump's statements regarding potential clemency recipients have been inconsistent. He has at times indicated that "many" individuals will be granted clemency, while also suggesting that there may be exceptions for those who acted violently. John Pierce, a defense attorney representing over 50 defendants from January 6, remarked, "I expect he will act swiftly and broadly in his decisions." He added that failing to issue a comprehensive pardon on his first day could lead to significant criticism.
Legal experts believe that the largest group of January 6 offenders likely to receive pardons consists of those charged with misdemeanor offenses, such as trespassing or unlawful assembly on Capitol grounds, without any allegations of violence. Notable individuals facing only misdemeanor charges include Couy Griffin, founder of Cowboys for Trump and a former Republican official from New Mexico, as well as Rebecca Lavrenz, known as the "J6 Praying Grandma," whom Trump has described as "unfairly targeted by Crooked Joe Biden's DOJ."
In principle, Trump could issue a blanket pardon encompassing all defendants charged or convicted of misdemeanors related to January 6.
Over 170 individuals have been charged with offenses involving deadly weapons or assaults on law enforcement during the January 6 events.
The group comprises Julian Khater, who received a sentence exceeding six years in prison for executing a pepper-spray assault on Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick and two additional individuals. Sicknick passed away the following day, with a medical examiner determining that his death was due to natural causes.
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