WASHINGTON — A number of Republican senators have expressed their disapproval of President Donald Trump’s choice to issue pardons and commute sentences for over 1,500 individuals involved in violent acts against police and other crimes during the January 6 Capitol riot four years prior. Despite their reservations, they are not actively opposing the decision.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune remarked, “We’re not looking backwards, we’re looking forward,” which reflects a common sentiment among Senate Republicans when discussing Trump’s actions from his previous term. Thune did not clarify his stance on the pardons, which have unsettled many lawmakers who experienced the chaos firsthand as they escaped the assault by Trump’s supporters that interrupted the certification of President Joe Biden’s election win.
Republican Senator Kevin Cramer from North Dakota mentioned he would have preferred a more targeted approach rather than blanket pardons, considering the specifics of each case. “It’s not ideal in my mind,” he said, but acknowledged understanding the spirit behind the decision, hoping to move on subsequently.
Similarly, Senator Tommy Tuberville from Alabama shared his thoughts on the matter, emphasizing the need to put January 6 behind them. He noted the complexity of the situation, particularly given the relationships they have with Capitol Police who faced violence from the rioters and who protect lawmakers daily.
The approach of downplaying the Capitol attack’s severity while moving on has become a common strategy for congressional Republicans, who have re-embraced Trump after his 2020 defeat and his controversial efforts to contest Biden’s victory. The subdued Republican response to Trump’s expansive pardons for both non-violent and violent offenders was yet another demonstration of their longtime practice of supporting him publicly when it suits them while ignoring him otherwise.
West Virginia Senator Shelley Moore Capito encapsulated this sentiment, stating, “We’re looking forward and beyond on other policy issues.” The pardons, which were among many executive orders Trump issued on his first day back in office, dramatically disrupted the largest prosecutorial operation in Justice Department history, releasing individuals who had violently attacked police and members of far-right extremist factions aiming to prevent Biden’s inauguration. Over 100 police officers sustained injuries, with some unable to fully return to their duties.
Prominent Republicans such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, Vice President JD Vance, and Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi had indicated that Trump would individually evaluate the cases. However, as promised, his actions turned out to be much broader in scope.
In justifying Trump’s pardons, some Republicans have chosen to highlight President Biden’s own series of preemptive pardons he granted, including to family members and lawmakers investigating the January 6 events as he exited office.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley from Iowa questioned why there was so much focus on January 6, stating, “How come everybody’s asking me about January 6th? Aren’t you going to ask me about the Biden pardons?” Similarly, Kansas Senaor Roger Marshall criticized the media’s attention on the January 6 pardons rather than Biden’s actions.
While some Democrats also opposed Biden’s pardons, Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal expressed frustration, citing they provide Trump a misleading justification for his own pardons.
A handful of Republicans showed support for Trump’s actions. Newly appointed Ohio Senator Bernie Moreno acknowledged the sacrifices of Capitol Police but asserted that “nobody’s been treated worse” than the rioters. Wyoming Senator Cynthia Lummis expressed her relief that these individuals were released from prison.
As of Tuesday morning, more than 200 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 incident had been released from the Federal Bureau of Prisons, officials confirmed.
Several Republican senators voiced their opposition to the pardons, though many appeared resigned to its implications. North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis mentioned he has a fundamental disagreement with Trump regarding the pardons for violent offenders, while South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds stated he could not defend them. Maine Senator Susan Collins shared that she had received a message from an officer detailing his assault, emphasizing her stance against pardoning those who committed violent acts on January 6, stating that the pardons on both sides “erodes public confidence.”
Alaska Senator Lisa Murkowski expressed her disappointment in the pardons, referring to a Capitol Police officer who was safeguarding Republicans during their weekly lunch. “I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us,” she said.
