On January 20, 2025, some hours after his inauguration as "president", Donald Trump issued full pardons or sentence commutations (to time served) to all persons convicted of offenses related to the January 6, 2021 riot at the US Capitol.
Among those pardoned were: A guy who stomped on Capitol Police Officers' heads after attacking them with a variety of weapons. A guy who sprayed Officer Brian Sicknick (who died of a stroke the following day) in the face with pepper spray. A guy who crushed Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges in a doorway using a police riot shield. A guy who jammed a Taser into the neck of Metropolitan Police officer Michael Fanone and shocked him repeatedly. That's just to name a few of those who violently attacked the police officers guarding the Capitol that day and are now walking free. Except, I guess, for that guy who already had several felony violence convictions, was awaiting trial for multiple acts of violence on January 6 and was arrested on gun charges a couple days after his pardon.
 |
| Supporting our local police. |
Driving home from work tonight I listened to a story about Trump supporters who disapprove of his January 6 pardons. Similar stories have been published elsewhere. Some Republicans in Congress also profess disagreement.
 |
| So where exactly is that thin blue line? |
The Fraternal Order of Police, the largest US police union, which endorsed Trump in every election he ran in, is not happy about the pardons. They said so in a joint statement with the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
 |
| You may want to rethink that. |
But guess what? He told us he was going to do this. He talked about it before he even declared his candidacy for the 2024 election. He told us at his campaign rallies that he would do it. He posted about it on his "Truth Social" platform. There is nothing to be surprised about here.
So if you endorsed his candidacy, or voted for him, or as an elected Republican official just passively let him do his thing: you know who this man is. You know what he said he would do. You supported him anyway. You endorse this. You want this. You own this. No excuses, no "I never believed he would…", no "Sure I voted for him, but I disagree with…". None of that. You knew what the program was, and you consciously and willingly joined with like-minded others to make it happen. You bear direct responsibility for this, and for all of the craziness and pain to come.
