U.S. President Donald Trump has issued pardons to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol building in Washington, D.C. The announcement came just hours after his inauguration on Monday, following the signing of an executive order at the White House.
Details of the pardon, including the number of individuals affected and the specific crimes for which they were convicted, remain unclear. However, close associates of Trump, including Vice President JD Vance, had earlier stated that those involved in acts of violence during the Capitol breach would not be pardoned.
Trump himself refrained from providing specifics on the pardons before his inauguration, leaving observers speculating on the scope of the move.
According to figures from the U.S. Department of Justice, over 1,488 individuals have been charged in connection with the Capitol breach. The attack occurred on January 6, 2021, when Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol during the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.
The violent incident, which followed a rally where Trump promoted unsubstantiated claims of election fraud, resulted in the deaths of five people and marked a dark day in American democracy.
The decision to pardon individuals linked to the attack has already sparked widespread debate and criticism, with many questioning its implications for justice and accountability in the country.
(DOA/NAN)