Democrats unveiling resolution condemning Trump pardons of violent Jan. 6 rioters

Senate Democrats are unveiling a resolution Monday that would condemn President Trump’s pardons of those found guilty of assaulting police officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. 

The effort, led by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Sens. Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) and Andy Kim (D-N.J.), would declare that the Senate “disapproves of any pardons for individuals” found guilty of assaulting Capitol Police officers. 

All 47 members of the Senate Democratic Caucus co-sponsored the resolution. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was not initially included as being a co-sponsor in a release from Murray's office, but his name was included on the resolution itself. 

Murray’s office said in the release that she will seek unanimous consent for the resolution this week. But only one senator would need to object to that to prevent it from passing, making the chances of its success in the Republican-controlled chamber unlikely

The resolution’s introduction comes a week after Trump pardoned nearly all of the roughly 1,600 people charged in connection with the riot. He commuted the sentences of about a dozen others who did not receive pardons. 

Trump also ordered the Justice Department to throw out any pending indictments against Jan. 6 defendants whose cases haven’t yet been adjudicated, covering about 470 people. 

About 600 people were accused of assaulting, resisting or impeding police during the turmoil, and 10 were convicted of sedition, the most serious charge that was brought against any individual resulting from that day. 

The Senate Democrats leading the resolution said in a statement Monday that 169 people who pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers were included in the pardons, and more than 80 Capitol Police officers and 60 Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police officers were assaulted during the attack. 

“Donald Trump’s pardons are a wholesale endorsement of political violence—as long as it serves Donald Trump,” Murray said. “Affirming that U.S. Senators condemn unconditional pardons for people who were found guilty of violently assaulting Capitol Police officers should be the easiest thing in the world.” 

“I hope and expect my Republican colleagues will allow this very simple resolution to pass as a show of support for the officers who put their lives on the line to keep senators safe,” she added. 

Trump’s action to pardon those accused and convicted of violent crimes has received criticism from both sides of the aisle. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a close ally of Trump, called the pardoning of those individuals a “mistake.” 

Some have called for considering limits on the president’s pardon power in the aftermath of Trump’s move, as well as the pardons from former President Biden in the waning days of his presidency.

— Updated at 11:42 a.m. EST