As President-elect Donald Trump prepares for his second term in office, the question of whether he will pardon those convicted for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riots continues to generate speculation. During a December 2024 interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump confirmed his intent to examine the cases of rioters convicted in the 2021 attack, signaling that he would begin issuing pardons shortly after taking office on January 20.
Trump has long referred to the January 6 defendants as “political prisoners” and “hostages,” claiming they were subjected to unfair legal treatment. He expressed frustration over what he described as a “very nasty system” and has promised to explore pardons for those involved. At his first 2024 campaign rally, Trump even played a song by the “J6 Prison Choir,” a group of men imprisoned for their participation in the Capitol attack, further emphasizing his stance.
Trump’s comments indicate that he plans to review each case individually, although he hinted that there could be exceptions for those who acted “radical” or “crazy” during the riot. Regarding individuals who pled guilty, including those who assaulted police officers, Trump suggested that many had “no choice” but to participate, leaving open the possibility for pardons for those individuals as well.
The scale of the January 6 investigation has been unprecedented, with over 1,570 defendants charged in connection to the attack. To date, more than 1,250 of them have been convicted or pled guilty, with over 640 sentenced to prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.
With the Biden administration’s Justice Department continuing to pursue charges against remaining defendants, it remains to be seen how Trump’s promised pardons will play out in practice, especially given the ongoing legal proceedings.
