CREW statement on January 6th pardons

Following President Trump's announcement that he would be pardoning and commuting the sentences of the people who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021 including Oath Keepers Leader Stewart Rhodes, and the reported release of Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, CREW President Noah Bookbinder, a former federal prosecutor, released the following statement:

"It is hard to overstate the destructive and devastating impact of President Trump's sweeping pardons of January 6 participants and sentence commutations of those convicted of violent or extremely serious offenses for their role in that insurrection. The attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 was a violent assault on American democracy and the rule of law - an attempt to install into power by force the loser of a popular election. Giving a pass to those who participated, all of whom were convicted after trial with ample evidence and process or pleaded guilty to crimes, sends a message that the right of the people to choose our own leaders no longer matters because the results can merely be overturned by force. It also makes it clear where Trump stands on the insurrection: many of the people who attacked the Capitol said they did it because they thought they had Trump's support. He just made it clear that they did.

Commuting the sentences of those convicted of violent offenses demonstrates extreme disrespect for the brave law enforcement officers who risked and in some cases gave their lives to defend democracy on that day. And it raises a terrifying question: what happens if Trump doesn't want to leave the White House at the end of his term?"