Rioters storming the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Image via Wikipedia.
“Justice is indiscriminately due to all, without regard to numbers, wealth or rank.” —John Jay
By Jack Bernard, contributing columnist
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. | For those who have been under a rock, President Trump just pardoned 1,500+ insurrectionists. On Jan. 6, 2021, many attacked Capitol police where 150 were injured, then ransacked the Capitol building. The actions of these rioters lead to the eventual deaths of five officers, four by suicide due to the impact of the riot upon their mental health.
My uncle commanded a New York Police Department precinct. My first cousins were employed by the FBI and corrections departments. I would have thought “back the blue” police unions would come down strongly on Trump’s pardons. But even The International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police are afraid of Trump’s vindictiveness.
So, in a joint statement (1-21-25), both organizations attempted to falsely equate Joe Biden’s inappropriate actions of pardoning his son, et al, with Trump’s outrageous pardoning of 1,500+ traitorous rioters. A total of 1,270 of these rioters were already convicted. Trump also commuted sentences for another 14 members of radical right-wing groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers.
I disagree with Biden’s pardons for criminals who are politically connected. But for some pardons, I acknowledge his thinking centered around humane considerations for his own family, Congressmen and other people simply doing their jobs.
I can also understand Trump’s self-interested, politicized rationale for issuing his pardons to people convicted of “obstruction or impediment of an official proceeding” and violent 1-6-21 offenses. Loyalty to Trump is the sole criteria for obtaining immunity, with him repeatedly declaring convicted insurrectionists to be “hostages” rather than criminals.
In other words, “Anyone who kisses the ring is immune from prosecution.” How else can Trump’s historic, unethical actions be explained? Let’s look at a few of the violent people who organized and led the violent confrontation, but then got commutations or complete pardons.
- Stewart Rhodes: A primary organizer of the insurrection, Rhodes is a leader of the radical right wing Oath Keepers. He was sentenced to not one or two years, but to 18 years for “seditious conspiracy.” In other words, conspiring to overthrow our democracy by preventing the certification of the 2020 Presidential election. His followers, dressed in battle gear, attacked police. His sentence was commuted.
- Enrique Tarrio: A leader of the right-wing Proud Boys, he was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy. Although he organized the violent activities of hundreds of Proud Boys on January 6, he was completely pardoned.
Others pardoned/commuted (you can Google specifics) included Dan Gray, a Georgia resident who assaulted a Capitol police officer; and Brandon Fellows, Brian Mock, Issac Sturgeon, Salvador Sandoval, Jacob Chansley, Rachel Powell, Andrew Valentin, Matt Valentin and many other men/women convicted of various indefensible violent offenses against Capitol police.
Two-thirds of Americans do not agree with these Trump pardons. However, the bottom line is that we now have an American “king” who has been bestowed total immunity by our politicized Supreme Court. Plus, Trump has made it clear that he will give immunity to anyone wearing the red MAGA hat (even a Democrat like NYC Mayor Eric Adams).
Our system of checks and balances and equal protection under the law has ceased to exist. Trump’s “Brown Shirts” are now free to terrorize anyone that Trump dislikes. If they are found guilty by a jury, he can just make an excuse and then pardon them. And they know it. Our Founding fathers must be turning over in their graves.
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