## Senate Republicans Block Resolution Condemning Pardons for January 6th Attackers
On January 28, 2025, Senate Republicans successfully blocked a resolution condemning President Donald Trump’s pardons for individuals convicted of violently assaulting law enforcement officers during the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The resolution, introduced by Democratic Senator Patty Murray of Washington, sought to express disapproval of these pardons. Senator Murray’s request for unanimous consent, a common procedural tactic for non-controversial measures, was blocked by Republican Majority Whip John Barrasso of Wyoming. This single act of opposition was sufficient to prevent the resolution’s passage.
Senator Murray vehemently criticized Trump’s decision, calling it an “unthinkable attempt to erase the facts of that day” and a “betrayal of law enforcement.” She argued that the pardons sent a dangerous message, condoning political violence and suggesting that assaulting police officers is acceptable if done in service to a political figure. The 19-word resolution, co-sponsored by all 47 Democratic and independent senators, simply stated its disapproval of pardons granted to those convicted of assaulting Capitol Police officers.
Senator Barrasso’s justification for blocking the resolution centered on a perceived hypocrisy, claiming that Democrats were avoiding a broader discussion about the use of presidential pardon power. He pointed to the numerous pardons and commutations granted by former President Joe Biden, including thousands for non-violent drug offenders and the commutation of death sentences for 37 federal inmates. Barrasso also highlighted Biden’s preemptive pardons for members of the January 6th investigative committee, law enforcement officers who testified before the committee, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and General Mark Milley. He further cited the controversy surrounding Biden’s pardon of his son, Hunter Biden.
This exchange highlights the deep partisan divide surrounding the January 6th attack and the use of presidential pardon power. The sheer number of individuals involved in the assault—over 1,560 defendants, with 608 charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement—underscores the gravity of the event. The fact that nearly a third of these defendants pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement, some using improvised weapons, further emphasizes the violence inflicted upon officers. Over 140 Capitol and Metropolitan Police officers were injured, and four officers died by suicide in the aftermath. Despite this, many Republican senators either refused to comment on the pardons, deflected criticism by focusing on Biden’s actions, or claimed they hadn’t read Trump’s pardon order. The incident underscores a continued lack of consensus on the significance of the January 6th attack and its implications for the rule of law.