Rep. Raskin Demands Accountability for Potential Jan. 6 Pardons
WASHINGTON — Democratic Representative Jamie Raskin is urging the American public to demand accountability from President-elect Donald Trump should he follow through on his promise to pardon all January 6th defendants. Speaking at a virtual event hosted by the State Democracy Defenders Action, a nonpartisan advocacy group combating election sabotage and autocracy, Raskin emphasized the gravity of such an action. He served on the Select Committee to Investigate the January 6th Attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Raskin characterized a blanket pardon of over 1,000 individuals convicted for their roles in the violent insurrection as an unprecedented event in American history, particularly given that the insurrection was allegedly incited by the president himself. He stressed the need for a thorough explanation justifying each pardon, demanding evidence of contrition and repentance from every recipient. Raskin, slated to be the top Democrat on the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability this Congress, highlighted the severity of the crimes committed on January 6th.
Trump’s campaign pledge to pardon the January 6th defendants, whom he repeatedly refers to as “patriots,” “warriors,” and “hostages,” is well-documented. During a December interview on NBC’s “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker,” he indicated he would act swiftly upon taking office, potentially making exceptions only for those he deemed “radical” or “crazy.” The January 6th attack resulted in over 140 police officers being assaulted and 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, including 171 for using deadly or dangerous weapons to harm law enforcement. Raskin underscored the severity of the violence by citing the case of Thomas Webster, a 56-year-old former Marine and police officer sentenced to 10 years in prison for assaulting a police officer during the riot. He noted that this is just one example among many instances of extreme violence against law enforcement officers.
According to the latest Justice Department data, 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 deep concerns surrounding the potential widespread pardons and their implications for the rule of law and the integrity of the democratic process.
(Article published January 2, 2025, by Ashley Murray, Minnesota Reformer)
(Note: The appended information about the Minnesota Reformer and its publishing guidelines has been omitted from this rewritten version as it is not directly related to the core content of the news article.)