Vice President-elect JD Vance stated that individuals involved in violent acts during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot should “obviously” not be pardoned, even as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to grant clemency to many of those charged in connection with the incident.
In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Vance described the pardon issue as “very simple,” emphasizing 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 said. However, he acknowledged a “bit of a gray area” in some cases.
Trump has promised to issue pardons for Capitol rioters as one of his first acts after assuming office on January 20, saying on NBC’s Meet the Press that clemency would be granted quickly.
“Most likely, I’ll do it very quickly,” Trump said, adding, “those people have suffered long and hard. And there may be some exceptions to it. I have to look. But, you know, if somebody was radical, crazy.”
The Capitol riot, which sought to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory, resulted in charges against more than 1,500 individuals.
The violence left over 100 police officers injured and forced lawmakers into hiding. While hundreds of participants faced misdemeanor charges for unlawfully entering the Capitol, others were charged with felonies, including assault and seditious conspiracy.
Members of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys were convicted of plotting to use violence to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power.
Vance addressed criticism from supporters of the Capitol rioters on social media, defending his position. In a post on X, he wrote, “I’ve been defending these guys for years.” He emphasized that both he and Trump remain committed to addressing perceived injustices in certain cases.
“The president saying he’ll look at each case (and me saying the same) is not some walkback,” Vance said.
“I assure you, we care about people unjustly locked up. Yes, that includes people provoked and it includes people who got a garbage trial.” he noted.
