House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed unwavering support for President Donald Trump’s sweeping decision to pardon approximately 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Johnson, speaking to reporters, emphasized his belief in “redemption and second chances” and insisted that the nation must move forward rather than dwell on the past.
“Everybody can describe this however they want,” Johnson stated. “The president has the pardon and commutation authority—it’s his decision. What’s been clear all along is that peaceful protesters should never have been punished. There was a weaponization of the Justice Department, and we need to focus on the future, not the past.”
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Johnson’s comments follow Trump’s signing of a presidential proclamation commuting the sentences of several high-profile individuals and granting unconditional pardons to all others convicted in connection with the Capitol riot.
Among those granted clemency are prominent figures such as Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, and several members of the Proud Boys, including Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs, who were serving lengthy prison terms.
President Trump, in his official statement, framed the mass pardons as a necessary step to heal the nation, calling it an end to a “grave national injustice” and the beginning of “a process of national reconciliation.”
“I do hereby grant a full, complete, and unconditional pardon,” Trump’s proclamation states, asserting that the prosecutions of those involved in the January 6 events were politically motivated and intended to suppress patriotic Americans.
Despite Democratic backlash, Speaker Johnson remained firm in his support for Trump’s decision, maintaining that the individuals pardoned were victims of a “politically charged environment” and deserve a chance to reintegrate into society.
“We’re moving forward. There are better days ahead,” Johnson said. “This is about giving people an opportunity to rebuild their lives and focus on the future of our great nation.”
Several Republican lawmakers, including Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA), praised Trump’s action as a “bold stand against political persecution.”
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