In a move that sent shockwaves through the U.S. political and judicial systems, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump issued pardons, commutations, or dismissals of charges to over 1,500 people convicted of crimes related to the January 6 Capitol insurrection. Even those who attacked police officers were released from prison.
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The sweeping decision flies in the face (as well as being a slap in the face) to accountability, justice, and the future of American democracy. The implications for these grotesque pardons are deeply troubling, and few voices have been as forthright about what really happened on January 6 as California Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, a member of the House committee that investigated the attack.
Lofgren talked exclusively to The Advocate about the pardons and their implications. Further, she expressed both frustration and determination when addressing Trump’s actions during his first week as president. While it was assumed that Trump would take some sort of action on behalf of the insurrectionists, the scope and breadth of the decision still came as a shock.
"His vice president said that those convicted of violent offenses would not be pardoned. That’s not what happened, right?" she noted. "It doesn’t erase the moral stain, and it’s an attempt to undo what happened. It’s in keeping with what Trump is trying to do. He’s now trying to erase history. It is legal for him to pardon people because of the unfettered power that the president has given in the Constitution, but the pardons were still wrong.”
“There’s a danger out there. Some of these individuals who were convicted of violent offenses had committed violence in prior years,” Lofgren pointed out. “There will likely be some who are arrested for other crimes, and that will all be on Trump. But we can’t afford to shrug our shoulders.”
She pointed to Republicans who are also trying to make excuses for Trump’s actions. “You have someone like [Alabama Sen.] Tommy Tuberville, who said he never saw any evidence of the violence against the police. All you need to do is watch all of the videos from that day to see it. It’s all documented. There is too much evidence, too much documentary evidence, for them to succeed in erasing history."
Lofgren’s concerns extend beyond the immediate impact of the pardons. She fears that the move emboldens violent extremists and sets a dangerous precedent. "Trump has just told violent extremists in our country that if they commit crimes on his behalf, they will not be held accountable. That could create a kind of brown shirt movement," she warned, referencing historical examples of political violence and authoritarianism.
The congresswoman also touched on the broader implications of Trump’s actions, suggesting they are part of a deliberate strategy to overwhelm the publi. "He’s doing this to flood the zone so that people will be unable to respond to everything.”
This "flooding the zone" tactic, as Lofgren describes it, creates a sense of helplessness among the public,’”But people need to remain engaged. It’s really up to them whether we will allow the unbridled whims of this president to prevail permanently."
One of the most heart-wrenching aspects of the pardons, according to Lofgren, is their effect on law enforcement officers who defended the Capitol that day. "I was in touch with Officer Brian Sicknick’s mother after the pardons were announced, the guy who sprayed chemicals at Brian Sicknick was released. Sicknick died. Trump’s actions have told police officers that their sacrifices don’t matter."
Lofgren then referred to former President Joe Biden’s preemptive pardons of the January 6 committee, while Lofgren was grateful, she did not seek a pardon. “I was not in touch with the White House, and I think we are fully actually [under] the protection provided under the Speech or Debate Clause in the constitution which is much broader than a presidential pardon.”
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In addition to Tuberville, reactions from Republican leaders to Trump’s pardons have ranged from muted acceptance to ignorance to endorsements. House Speaker Mike Johnson described the pardons as an opportunity for "redemption," and Senate Majority Leader John Thune said that the party was not looking backward but moving forward, characterizations Lofgren finds absurd.
"It’s shocking and embarrassing. How low will they go? Apparently, there is no limit," she said. "They don’t want to move forward. At the same time, Johnson and Thune are saying they want to move forward, Johnson is announcing they’re going to do a select committee to investigate the investigation of the riot. It’s absurd."
Lofgren’s critique of the Republican Party’s response extends to their policy priorities under Trump’s renewed presidency. "They’re looking at cuts to Medicare and Medicaid, targeting marginalized communities, and halting civil rights litigation. It just goes to show how this administration is hitting the poor and vulnerable while serving its own interests," she said. "For example, two-thirds of nursing home beds in this country are paid for through Medicaid. For people who rely on that, there’s no other source."
Lofgren said she is in constant touch with her fellow January 6 committee members. “We’re proud of the work we did on the committee. We’re not going to be intimidated by anybody," she said. "This fight is far from over."
Despite her concerns, Lofgren remains committed to pushing back against what she sees as an assault on democracy.
"We need to support those who are challenging these illegal actions," she urged. "Trump was elected, but that doesn’t mean everything he’s doing will be supported by the public. We will still have elections in less than two years to put some brakes on this."
