Trump’s January 6th Pardons Are an Assault on the Rule of Law

January 20, 2025

Trump's January 6th Pardons Are an Assault on the Rule of Law

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Within hours of taking office, President Donald Trump granted sweeping pardons and sentence-commutations for individuals implicated in the violent assault on American democracy during the January 6th 2021 insurrection. In response, Lisa Gilbert, co-president of Public Citizen, issued the following statement:

"It is perhaps on brand that Donald Trump has kicked off his 2nd term with an assault on our democracy, just as he ended his first term. This isn't just about degrading the US constitution and the rule of law in theory, his disgraceful actions here send a message that political violence is acceptable, so long as it is in support of him and his pursuit of unchecked power.We intend to fight against these types of abuses over the next four years to maintain the integrity of the rule of law."