Trump pardons over 1,500 January 6 US Capitol riot participants
US president repeatedly pledged during his election campaign to pardon those who took part in the 2021 attack
03:03
Trump signs series of executive orders on first day back in White House
US President Donald Trump granted pardons on Monday to more than 1,500 of his supporters who stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in a bid to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
Trump, just hours after taking office, also ordered that all pending criminal cases against Capitol riot defendants be dropped.
Among those receiving a pardon was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for directing a military-style assault on the Capitol.
Stewart Rhodes, the leader of another far-right group, the Oath Keepers, had his 18-year prison sentence commuted to time served. Both Tarrio and Rhodes had been convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Describing the rioters as “hostages”, Trump said at a White House signing ceremony that he had granted “full pardons” to more than 1,500 defendants.
