Vice President-elect J.D. Vance said Sunday, Jan. 12, that individuals convicted for violent acts committed during the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol protests "obviously" should not be pardoned.
Vance's remarks, made during an interview on "Fox News Sunday," come as Trump has vowed to issue pardons to many of the protesters on "Day 1" of his presidency, which begins Jan. 20. The debate over clemency for the protesters has reignited tensions within Trump’s own base, with some supporters accusing Vance of abandoning those who rallied for the former president. (Related: Trump's plan to pardon over 1,000 convicted J6 protesters sparks criticism from Big Government.)
The Capitol protest, which left more than 100 police officers injured and temporarily halted the certification of the official results of the 2020 elections, has become a defining moment in modern American politics.
More than 1,600 people have been charged with federal crimes stemming from the incident, ranging from misdemeanors for unlawful entry to felonies for assaulting officers and seditious conspiracy. Some of the worst alleged offenders have been convicted of plotting to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
Vance, who will assume office alongside Trump next month, sought to draw a distinction between peaceful protesters and those who engaged in violence.
"If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned," Vance told host Shannon Bream. "But if you protested peacefully, you should be pardoned."
He later acknowledged there was a "bit of a gray area" in some cases, suggesting that pardons could still be considered for individuals who received what he called "a garbage trial."
Trump, however, has taken a broader stance, promising to pardon "most likely" all Capitol protesters "very quickly" after his inauguration.
In a recent interview on NBC's "Meet the Press," Trump described the legal system as "very corrupt" and claimed that many rioters had been unfairly targeted.
"Those people have suffered long and hard," Trump said. "And there may be some exceptions to it. I have to look. But, you know, if somebody was radical, crazy."
The president-elect’s comments have drawn criticism from both sides of the political spectrum, with opponents accusing him of undermining the rule of law and supporters demanding clemency for all protesters.
Vance's remarks also sparked backlash from some within Trump's base. Luke Lints, who pleaded guilty to interfering with law enforcement during the protest, expressed dismay on social media, writing, "I'm absolutely emotionally distraught right now."
Vance later sought to clarify his position, posting on X that he and Trump would evaluate each case individually.
"We care about people unjustly locked up," Vance wrote. "Yes, that includes people provoked and it includes people who got a garbage trial."
The debate over pardons underscores the enduring divisions within the Republican Party and the broader political landscape. For many, the Capitol protest remains a symbol of the fragility of American democracy, while others view it as a rallying cry against perceived government overreach. Vance's attempt to balance these competing narratives highlights the challenges facing the incoming administration as it seeks to unify a fractured electorate.
Watch this Fox News clip from Sunday featuring Vice President-elect J.D. Vance discussing the incoming administration's plans for presidential pardons.
This video is from the NewsClips channel on Brighteon.com.
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7 days ago
Vance is right. Those that committed serious violations should be punished. Such as those that participated in things like: entrapment; blackmail tactics; selective enforcement of the law; unfair punishment for the crime; malicious prosecution; staging a fake crime (shooting) plus those that got the special passes for the crisis actors so they could enter the Capitol on the 5th to set up their stage props. The Capitol was currently closed to ALL visitors at that time.
Here is something to ponder, if someone were to really shoot and kill the crisis actor, could the shooter claim his innocents because everyone already "knew" that she was dead.
That reminds me of Special Agent Barry Lee Bush of the FBI that got cough with his gun and silencer sneaking pass security in the Trump Towers and that was in spite of his death many years earlier. Plus we have that poor teacher that died at Sandy Hook and was then injured at a bombing. Life was simpler in the old days, when a person died, will, they just stayed dead.
7 days ago
Does that mean that any undercover actors that day (Ray Epps) should not be pardoned? How about Officer Byrd? The only people committing crimes on J6 were representatives of different government agencies. Shouldn't they be prosecuted? Give JD credit for knowing this.
8 days ago
Over and over Vance proves himself to be the quintessential Puss puss.