January 6, 2021 was a turning point in American history. Fueled by Trump’s fabricated claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged and stolen from him, an angry mob had gathered in Washington at the time. Armed with baseball bats, flagpoles and stun guns, Trump supporters stormed the Congress building to prevent lawmakers from officially certifying Joe Biden’s victory. Five people died and around 170 police officers were injured.
Four years later, Donald Trump calls that frightening day “a day of love.” For him, the supporters who stormed the US Capitol, looted and injured police officers in his name are “patriots.” On his first day back in the White House, the president-elect plans to make a statement. He wants to pardon her within “nine minutes”.
Donald Trump defends Capitol stormers: “They had no choice”
How many Capitol stormers Trump will actually grant legal absolution remains to be seen. More than 1,500 women and men were charged in the wake of January 6th, and more than 200 have been convicted so far. These include many members of right-wing extremist militias such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.
Recently, Trump appeared undecided as to whether he should also pardon those accused of more serious crimes. The crimes range from trespassing to aggravated assault and seditious conspiracy. “I don’t know,” he said in an interview. He believes neither in “fair trials” in Washington nor in New York and promised to “look at every single case.” Asked what about the nearly 1,000 people who have pleaded guilty to the attack, Trump replied: “They had no choice. The system is a very corrupt system.”
Meanwhile, some of the accused have already asked their judges to be allowed to travel to Trump’s inauguration in the capital despite being under house arrest. The change of power on January 20th is likely to be attended by the very people who four years earlier had tried with violence to prevent a peaceful transfer of power.
