Trump's pardons of the January 6th rioters are a blatant example of his manipulative 'law and order' rhetoric, highlighting the hypocrisy of his claims to support law enforcement
President Donald Trump ’s reputation as a master of gaslighting is well deserved. And his contention that he’s a staunch defender of law enforcement might be the most maddening of all his falsehoods. Sure, he invented a big lie about a massive conspiracy to steal the 2020 election that’s poisoned the brains of tens of millions of Americans and irreversibly damaged the integrity of the United States’ body politic.
But it’s equally risible to profess that “I am a friend of police, more than any president who’s ever been in this office” shortly after pardoning or commuting the sentences of nearly everyone involved with the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol. Those granted clemency by this self-proclaimed champion of law and order included the ringleaders of the attempted insurrection, rioters carrying (or wearing) Nazi and Confederate regalia and chanting their intentions to murder then-Vice President Mike Pence and then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, as well as violent criminals who savagely attacked police officers for hours. The phrase “Back the Blue” has long been used as a cudgel against anyone who dares criticize law enforcement officers and institutions. In this binary, you either unequivocally support cops or you’re a woke antifa terrorist. Until Trump pardoned the Jan. 6 rioters, “Back the Blue” was at its most absurd during the brief period earlier this decade when modest attempts at police reform were attempted (and mostly failed thanks in large part to police union intransigence). In response, several states passed laws declaring police officers to be a protected identity group. This led, predictably, to ridiculously overbroad enforcement — like when a 19-year-old in 2021 was charged with hate crime-enhanced criminal mischief and disorderly conduct for allegedly destroying a “Blue Lives Matter” sign and for what the cop described as “smirking in an intimidating manner.” Now that Trump has escaped prosecution for attempting a self-coup, one would think he would have at least limited his blanket pardons to “nonviolent” rioters, if only out of respect for the thin blue line. In fact, he had even indicated the pardons would be carefully vetted and rioters who attacked cops might not be granted a presidential pass. But in the end, Trump reportedly just impulsively released them all with a one-page declaration, surprising even his own vice president. Among the convicted criminals whom Trump referred to as “hostages” unjustly arrested for their actions on a “day of love” is Ryan Nichols. NBC News reported on the video evidence implicating Nichols: “Ryan Nichols said it, if you voted for f---ing treason we’re going to drag your f---ing a-- through the streets,” he said in the video as he marched to the Capitol. After he was seen on video spraying a giant canister of a chemical weapon at officers inside the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, Nichols bragged about his conduct on Facebook and called for more violence. “So if you want to know where Ryan Nichols stands, Ryan Nichols stands for violence,” he said in a video cited by prosecutors. Pretty unambiguous stuff! And he’s hardly an outlier. Also according to NBC News, Daniel Rodriguez “used a stun gun and plunged it into the neck of Washington Police Officer Michael Fanone multiple times.” Prosecutors said David Dempsey used “his hands, feet, flag poles, crutches, pepper spray, broken pieces of furniture, and anything else he could get his hands on.” Andrew Taake had been sentenced to six years for “assaulting law enforcement officers with bear spray and a metal whip.” I could go on, with hundreds more names of violent Jan. 6 rioters and the crimes they committed, for which they have now been pardoned. One of the more recognizable rioters is Jacob Chansley — also known as the shirtless, horns-wearing “QAnon Shaman” — who boasted on X about buying “SOME MOTHA F***IN GUNS!!!” Sounds ominous! (Trump, a convicted felon, still cannot legally possess firearms, per federal law.) The Fraternal Order of Police, the country’s largest police union and enthusiastic endorsers of Trump’s campaign, issued a vague and feeble message of disappointment — but not condemnation — of Trump’s pardons. Meanwhile, four officers at the Capitol that day have since died by suicide, which are considered deaths in the line of duty. More officers attacked that day continue to suffer from post-traumatic stress. Now they have to deal with both the indignity of watching their attackers walk free and the fear that the same people Trump incited to attack the Capitol will now take their retribution on the officers or their families. One former officer, Aquilino Gonell, posted on X, “The law and order dude is about to pardon those who assaulted the police. Collectively more than 40 rioters attacked me that day.
Donald Trump January 6Th Pardons Law Enforcement Qanon Gaslighting
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Trump PARDONS January 6th Rioters, Including 'QAnon Shaman', Biden Issues Preemptive PardonsFormer President Donald Trump pardoned Jacob Chansley, also known as the 'QAnon Shaman', and approximately 1,500 others charged in the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. Trump also directed the U.S. attorney general to seek dismissal of around 450 other cases related to the riot. Meanwhile, former President Joe Biden issued preemptive pardons for individuals he believed could face prosecution under Trump's administration, including members of the House January 6 committee and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Read more »
Trump Pardons Over 1,500 January 6th Rioters in Sweeping Executive OrderPresident Donald Trump signed a sweeping executive order pardoning over 1,500 individuals convicted of storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021. The move sparked both celebration from those awaiting release and outrage from those who view the riot as a serious attack on democracy.
Read more »
Trump's Potential Pardons of Jan. 6 Defendants: Misunderstanding the LawThis article discusses potential pardons for Jan. 6 defendants by incoming President Trump, highlighting how criticism of these pardons misunderstands the US legal system.
Read more »
Trump Pardons: A Nation DividedThis article examines the controversial blanket pardons issued by former President Donald Trump, particularly focusing on those granted to January 6th Capitol rioters. It contrasts Trump's approach with President Joe Biden's pardons, highlighting the public's disapproval of Trump's pardons for violence and obstruction. The article also explores the motivations behind Trump's pardons and the implications for national reconciliation.
Read more »
Trump Inauguration Live Updates: Trump Pardons 1,500 Jan. 6 DefendantsTrump was sworn in at 12 p.m. EST Monday.
Read more »
Judge Criticizes Trump's Birthright Citizenship Order, Grants Temporary Restraining OrderA federal judge in Seattle questioned the constitutionality of Trump's executive order, which aims to redefine birthright citizenship, and granted a temporary restraining order requested by multiple states. The order, which could impact hundreds of thousands of births, is slated to take effect on Feb. 19.
Read more »