When President Donald Trump first hinted at granting pardons to terrorists who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, many Republican senators were quick to voice their opposition, particularly to the idea of pardoning individuals who had violently assaulted police officers.
Senators like Ted Cruz of Texas and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina emphatically condemned such actions, calling violence against law enforcement “unacceptable” and “reinforc[ing] violence.”
“Pardons are given to people who admit misconduct, rehabilitate themselves. They’re not supposed to be used for other purposes,” Graham said in September.
Vice President J.D. Vance told Fox News on Jan. 12 that, “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.”
However, when Trump followed through on his promise to issue clemency to all January 6 defendants—including those who had physically attacked police officers—the Republican response was notably muted, revealing a striking shift in the party’s stance.
Trump issued pardons on his first day in office for 1,500 defendants who were prosecuted for their role in the Capitol riot and said he would commute the sentences of 14 other terrorists.
While a few lawmakers, such as Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky and Louisiana Senator Bill Cassidy, expressed disappointment, the majority of their colleagues chose to remain silent or offer weak justifications for Trump’s decision.
Senators Mike Crapo of Idaho, Barrasso of Wyoming, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, John Curtis of Utah, Lindsey Graham and Tim Scott of South Carolina, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Cindy Hyde-Smith of Mississippi, Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and Joni Ernst of Iowa each ducked questions on the clemency actions.
Some senators, like Ron Johnson of Wisconsin and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama, publicly endorsed the pardons, despite the violence involved.
Johnson suggested he supported the pardons because of the Justice Department’s handling of the cases, while Tuberville dismissed concerns over police assaults by claiming he had not seen the videos of the incidents.
Jim Banks of Indiana called the treatment of the January 6 defendants a “disgrace” and argued that Trump’s actions were justified simply because he had won the election.
The few Republicans who voiced opposition to the pardons seemed more concerned with the political fallout than with any principled stand against pardoning violent offenders.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune of South Dakota took a passive stance, claiming he was “not looking backwards,” while Senators Susan Collins of Maine and John Cornyn of Texas emphasized that Trump’s decision was his prerogative as president, signaling their reluctance to challenge him directly.
This apparent cowardice reflects a disturbing trend in the Republican Party, where criticism of Trump has increasingly become a political liability, especially with his base.
The fear of alienating his supporters has led many GOP lawmakers to condone or downplay his actions, even when those actions are in direct opposition to long-standing party principles.
The pardons—especially for individuals who assaulted law enforcement—have been widely unpopular, with recent polls showing that three-quarters of Americans oppose pardoning those who attacked police during the insurrection.
Yet, instead of standing up for law enforcement and condemning the violence, many Republicans have chosen to defend or remain silent on Trump’s controversial decision, signaling how the party has become increasingly beholden to Trump’s influence.
The response, or lack thereof, from Republican senators highlights the deepening divide within the party. What was once considered an unthinkable and politically risky move—to pardon those who assaulted police—is now being normalized under Trump’s leadership, further cementing his hold on the GOP.
This shift in party dynamics signals that the fear of challenging Trump has overpowered the moral and political compass of many Republicans, forcing them into compliance with a deeply controversial decision.
As Trump continues to push his extreme agenda of chaos and retribution, it remains unclear how far Republicans are willing to go in condoning actions that would have once been considered universally indefensible.
What is clear, however, is that many GOP lawmakers have chosen to prioritize political survival over standing up for principles of law, order, and justice.