Durbin Calls Out 'Full, Complete, and Unconditional' Pardons Given By President Trump To January 6 Insurrectionists Who Violently Assaulted Police Officers

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, denounced President Trump's decision to pardon January 6th insurrectionists, including those who violently assaulted law enforcement officers. In his remarks, Durbin read from an NPR article, describing in detail the crimes committed by the insurrectionists.

"We should reflect on these pardons and the people who received them," Durbin began.

"'[Here are] Some of the people convicted of violence on January 6,' here in the U.S. Capitol building, 'who received 'full, complete, and unconditional' pardons' from President Trump the day he was sworn in,'" Durbin began reading from the NPR article.

Durbin continued, "'David Dempsey [was] convicted of repeatedly assaulting police officers with pepper spray, a metal crutch and wooden and metal poles.'"

Durbin explained that Metropolitan Police Department Detective Phuson Nguyen testified that after he was pepper sprayed and knocked down by Dempsey, he recalled thinking, "I thought that's, you know, where I'm going to die."

"Dempsey was sentenced to 20 years in prison, [but he] received a 'full, complete, unconditional' pardon from President Trump Monday night," Durbin said.

Durbin then shared the story of U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was pepper sprayed by Julian Khater. After being rushed to the hospital that evening, Sicknick died the next day after suffering two strokes. The Washington, D.C. medical examiner said "all that transpired played a role in his [Sicknick's] condition."

"'Sicknick's mother, Gladys, spoke at Khater's sentencing hearing. 'Lawlessness, misplaced loyalty to a deranged autocratic ideal, and hate killed my son,' she [told the court]. 'And I hope that you are haunted by your crimes behind bars,'" Durbin read from the NPR article.

"He [Khater] was sentenced to six years in prison. And he received a 'full, complete, unconditional' pardon Monday night," Durbin said.

Durbin spoke about Patrick Edward McCaughey III's violent assault on police officers on January 6. McCaughey was convicted for using a police riot shield to crush Metropolitan Police Officer Daniel Hodges in a metal doorframe to the point of Hodges bleeding and crying for help.

"'If I were there much longer being assaulted in such a way, I knew that it was very likely I wouldn't be able to maintain my consciousness,' Hodges testified. 'Your actions on January 6 were some of the most egregious crimes that were committed that day,' federal judge Trevor McFadden told McCaughey before sentencing him to seven years in prison,'" Durbin read.

Repeating his refrain, Durbin said, "Mr. McCaughey received a 'full, complete, unconditional' pardon from Donald Trump on Monday."

Durbin continued reading from the article, underscoring the violent rhetoric that further stirred up the insurrectionists.

"'Ryan Nichols pleaded guilty to pepper spraying police officers and urging rioters through a bullhorn to storm the building. 'This is not a peaceful protest,' he yelled, according to prosecutors. 'If you have a weapon, you need to get your weapon!' Later that night, Nichols recorded a video of himself calling for a second American Revolution and stating, 'if you want to know where Ryan Nichols stands, Ryan Nichols stands for violence.' Nichols was sentenced to more than five years in prison,'" Durbin read.

"And he received a 'full, complete, unconditional' pardon from the President Monday night," Durbin repeated.

"'Daniel Rodriguez pleaded guilty to using a stun gun and 'plunging it' multiple times into police officer Michael Fanone's neck, in the words of prosecutors, leading Fanone to scream out in pain. 'During those moments, I remember thinking that there was a very good chance that I would be torn apart or be shot to death with my own weapon,' Fanone testified to Congress,'" Durbin quoted.

"'Rodriguez was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison,'" Durbin continued. "Daniel Rodriguez received a 'full, complete, unconditional' pardon from Donald Trump."

Pointing to these first-hand accounts from law enforcement officers and the words of the insurrectionists themselves, Durbin asserted that President Trump's pardons were unconscionable.

"For those who suggest that these are casual tourists to the Capitol, they should read the details of the attacks these individuals made on police officers who stood to guard us, the Vice President, and any visitors to the Capitol that day. They [law enforcement officers] risked their lives for us," Durbin said.

"The pardons from the White House are impossible to explain under those circumstances," Durbin concluded.

Video of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

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