President Trump’s recent pardons are not acts of justice, they are affronts to it. Since January 2025, he has pardoned over 1,500 individuals connected to the January 6 insurrection, including leaders of extremist groups and individuals convicted of violent crimes against law enforcement and our federal government.
Among those pardoned are Stewart Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio, leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, respectively. Both were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in orchestrating the Capitol attack and sentenced to lengthy prison terms. Their release undermines the rule of law and signals that allegiance to the President can override accountability.
Furthermore, individuals like Shane Jason Woods and Emily Hernandez, who were convicted for their roles in the Capitol riot, went on to commit fatal drunk driving incidents after receiving pardons. Woods killed a woman while driving under the influence, and Hernandez caused a fatal crash just days after her release.
In addition to these, Trump pardoned Scott Jenkins, a former Virginia sheriff convicted of accepting over $75,000 in bribes in exchange for granting deputy badges to wealthy donors. This blatant corruption was met not with condemnation, but with clemency.
The most recent and egregious example is the pardon of Todd and Julie Chrisley, reality TV stars convicted of defrauding banks of over $30 million and committing tax evasion. Despite their convictions being upheld on appeal, they received full pardons after their family personally lobbied the President.
These actions are not about correcting judicial errors or showing mercy; they are about rewarding loyalty, settling political scores, and dismantling accountability. They send a clear message: allegiance to President Trump supersedes the law.
Congress must act. Investigate these pardons. Limit the abuse of clemency. Reinforce that no one is above the law, not even the President.
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