During the investigation into the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, it was revealed that multiple Republican lawmakers had sought presidential pardons from Donald Trump at the end of his first term. This information was uncovered by the former select committee tasked with probing the events of that day.
Some former committee members expressed criticism over the actions of these lawmakers. They highlighted that seeking a pardon could be seen as an admission of guilt or an acknowledgment of potential legal trouble.
While Republican lawmakers reportedly requested pardons from Trump, there was no indication that former January 6 committee members made similar requests to President Joe Biden. The committee members' past statements shed light on their perspectives regarding the idea of seeking a pardon.
Representative Raskin emphasized that seeking a pardon could signal a sense of guilt or awareness of being implicated in wrongdoing. He noted that the act of requesting a pardon was not isolated to just one lawmaker, indicating a broader trend within the group.
During a hearing held by the former panel, Representative Kinzinger questioned the motives behind seeking a pardon, suggesting that such a request implied a belief in having committed a crime. He viewed this behavior as compelling evidence of a consciousness of guilt among the lawmakers.
Prior to President Biden issuing preemptive pardons to former January 6 committee members and staff, there was a belief among many close to the panel that these individuals were already protected by the speech and debate clause in the Constitution. This clause safeguards lawmakers from potential criminal prosecution related to their legislative duties.
