Following President Donald Trump's mass clemency for convicted rioters from the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, federal judges in Washington, DC, are pushing back against the pardons. The judges have rebuked the newly pardoned individuals as 'poor losers' and have vividly memorialized the 'blood, feces, and terror' left behind by the mob.
The judges' orders serve as a reminder of the judiciary's work in bringing justice to over 1,000 rioters through guilty pleas, trials, and sentencings. Despite Trump's executive order aiming for 'national reconciliation,' the judges, including Tanya Chutkan and Beryl Howell, have expressed strong dissent.
Judge Chutkan, who oversaw Trump's 2020 election federal criminal case, dismissed a pending rioter case with graphic descriptions of the aftermath of the attack. Judge Howell emphasized that no 'national injustice' occurred on January 6 and warned against glorifying disruptive behavior.
While some Capitol riot cases have been dismissed at the Justice Department's request, judges like Chutkan and Howell have refused to grant dismissals 'with prejudice' for certain defendants, leaving open the possibility of future charges.
Senior Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly highlighted the immutable truth of the events of January 6, emphasizing the heroism of law enforcement officers who responded to the violent mob.
Despite some Republicans celebrating the pardons, several judges have chosen to uphold the integrity of the judicial process and the truth of the Capitol attack. Former US Capitol Police Staff Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who suffered assaults on January 6, expressed disappointment over the pardons and emphasized the importance of upholding the rule of law.
While most convicted rioters welcomed Trump's clemency, some, like Pam Hemphill, have rejected the pardons as a refusal to be part of propaganda and an acknowledgment of their wrongdoing.
The judges' actions and statements underscore the judiciary's commitment to upholding justice and the rule of law in the face of political pressures and attempts to rewrite history.
