Raskin Demands Accountability for Potential Jan. 6 Pardons
WASHINGTON — Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin is urging Americans to demand President-elect Donald Trump justify any pardons he issues to January 6th defendants. Trump has promised to pardon those involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on his first day in office. Raskin, a member of the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack, described a blanket pardon of over 1,000 individuals convicted for their roles in the insurrection as “an extraordinary event in the history of the republic.” He emphasized the need for a thorough accounting of contrition and repentance from each individual receiving a pardon.
Raskin made these remarks during a virtual event hosted by the State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonpartisan group dedicated to combating election sabotage and autocracy. His statement follows Trump’s repeated campaign promises to pardon the January 6th defendants, whom he has consistently referred to as “patriots,” “warriors,” and “hostages.” In a December interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Trump stated his intention to act swiftly, potentially pardoning all defendants except those he deems “radical, crazy.”
The January 6th attack resulted in significant damage and injuries. Over 140 police officers were assaulted, and the rioters caused approximately $2.8 million in damage to the Capitol building. The Department of Justice has charged approximately 1,572 individuals in connection with the attack, with 171 facing charges for using deadly or dangerous weapons against law enforcement.
Raskin highlighted the case of Thomas Webster, a 56-year-old former Marine and police officer sentenced to 10 years for assaulting a police officer during the riot. He emphasized that Webster’s case is just one example of the severe violence inflicted upon law enforcement. According to the Justice Department, approximately 996 defendants have pleaded guilty (321 to felonies and 675 to misdemeanors), while around 215 have been found guilty at trial, including 10 convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Raskin’s call for accountability underscores the gravity of the January 6th attack and the potential implications of a mass presidential pardon. His request for individual justifications reflects a demand for transparency and a commitment to holding those responsible accountable for their actions.
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