President Trump pardoned over 1,000 individuals charged in the January 6th Capitol attack, including commutations for 14 far-right extremists convicted of seditious conspiracy. These pardons encompass individuals convicted of felonies such as assaulting police and property destruction. The actions have drawn criticism, including from the brother of a Capitol Police officer killed following the attack, while support remains strong among Trump’s base. Despite the pardons, the convictions and criminal records remain.
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President Trump issued roughly 1,500 pardons and 14 commutations to individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol attack, including those convicted of seditious conspiracy. This action, fulfilling a campaign promise, pardoned individuals convicted of offenses ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies such as assaulting law enforcement. The decision drew immediate criticism, described as an “outrageous insult to our justice system,” while Trump defended his actions, referring to the defendants as “hostages.” Despite the pardons, the extensive FBI investigation and resulting convictions stand as a public record of the events of January 6th.
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President Biden issued preemptive pardons to three siblings, two spouses, and several other individuals, including Dr. Fauci and Gen. Milley, citing concerns about politically motivated investigations. These pardons, announced shortly before President-elect Trump’s inauguration, aimed to protect those targeted from the damaging effects of baseless probes, regardless of guilt or innocence. The president stated that such investigations can cause irreparable harm to reputations and finances. This action, while breaking with historical norms, follows precedent of outgoing presidents granting eleventh-hour pardons, including family members.
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President Biden’s decision to pardon family members in the final moments of his presidency has ignited a firestorm of debate. The act itself, a seemingly last-minute flurry of executive clemency, raises profound questions about the power of the presidency and the state of the nation’s justice system. The sheer fact that such a move was even contemplated, let alone executed, suggests a deep-seated distrust in the fairness and impartiality of the incoming administration.
The timing, so close to the end of his term, adds a layer of intrigue and criticism. Many see it as a desperate attempt to shield his family from potential future prosecutions, a preemptive strike against what many perceive as a politically motivated witch hunt.… Continue reading
President Biden issued preemptive pardons for five family members—his brother James, James’s wife Sara, his sister Valerie, Valerie’s husband John, and his brother Francis—citing baseless, politically motivated investigations targeting them. These pardons, announced shortly before the presidential transition, accompanied similar pardons for other figures, including Dr. Fauci and Gen. Milley. The president emphasized that the pardons do not indicate guilt and that the investigations caused irreparable damage. This action follows Biden’s earlier pardon of his son, Hunter, after Hunter’s conviction on federal gun and tax charges.
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In his final hours in office, President Biden issued preemptive pardons to Dr. Anthony Fauci, General Mark Milley, and members of the January 6th Committee, citing fears of potential retribution from the incoming Trump administration. This unprecedented action, spurred by Trump’s threats and selection of partisan cabinet nominees, protects individuals who have been targeted for their roles in investigating the former president. While Biden insisted the pardons don’t imply guilt, the move represents a broad, untested use of presidential power and sets a precedent for future administrations. The pardons aim to safeguard these individuals from politically motivated prosecutions, acknowledging the potential for irreparable damage to their reputations and finances.
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President-elect Trump received an unconditional discharge in his hush-money case, despite his conviction on all 34 felony counts. The judge, citing upcoming presidential protections, avoided imposing a penalty, a decision that makes Trump the first person convicted of a felony to assume the presidency. While Trump maintains his innocence and plans to appeal, the sentencing followed a trial that detailed a scheme to conceal a sex scandal during the 2016 presidential campaign. Prosecutors, while supporting the no-penalty sentence, criticized Trump’s attacks on the judicial system.
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President Biden will award the Presidential Citizens Medal, the nation’s second-highest civilian honor, to twenty individuals. Among the recipients are Representatives Liz Cheney and Bennie Thompson, leaders of the January 6th Committee investigation, despite President-elect Trump’s calls for their imprisonment. Other honorees include prominent figures in the fight for marriage equality, veterans’ care, and women’s rights. The White House statement emphasizes the honorees’ shared commitment to public service and their positive impact on the nation.
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President Biden issued a historic act of clemency, commuting the sentences of approximately 1,500 individuals previously on home confinement due to the COVID-19 pandemic and pardoning 39 individuals convicted of nonviolent crimes. This represents the largest single-day use of clemency in modern presidential history, exceeding even President Obama’s previous record. The commutations focused on those who had completed at least a year of home confinement, reflecting efforts to mitigate COVID-19 spread in prisons. Further clemency actions are expected before Biden leaves office.
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President-elect Trump intends to swiftly pardon his supporters involved in the January 6th Capitol attack upon assuming office, citing their harsh treatment within the justice system. He will not, however, direct his Attorney General nominee to investigate his political opponents, despite his grievances with the Justice Department and FBI. Trump believes some members of the House January 6th Committee should face jail time for their actions, while asserting that many January 6th defendants were unfairly pressured into guilty pleas. He plans to leave decisions regarding investigations of political adversaries to his appointees, prioritizing the country’s success over retribution.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood