No one should pretend this isn’t what they voted for when they voted for Trump. On January 20, 2025, just hours after taking the oath of office to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States of America,” President Trump issued a blanket pardon, commutation, and dismissal of 1,500+ people involved in the January 6 US Capitol Riot.

Included were convicts who violently attacked uniformed police; it’s indisputable that these criminals brutalized and injured 140 officers. Indeed, many have confessed. The coroner stated “all that transpired played a role” in Officer Brian Sicknick’s stroke and death after being sprayed with a chemical irritant in the riot. Four other officers committed suicide days and months after the riot; family members spoke of how they were never the same after the riot. Suicide isn’t considered dying in the line of duty; this affects compensation families receive today.
One example of what was pardoned: Officer Michael Fanone was assaulted by five rioters, dragged down the Capitol steps, beaten with pipes, stunned with a Taser, sprayed with chemical irritants, and threatened with his own gun. Fanone suffered burns, a heart attack, a concussion, a traumatic brain injury, was diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder as a result, and his mother was harassed with bricks and dog poop.
Instead of serving well-deserved lengthy sentences, Trump has set Fanone’s attackers, who have pleaded guilty, free. And Fanone has filed for orders of protection.
Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson justifies this with, “We believe in redemption.”
No one should pretend they didn’t know; Trump pledged to pardon them all. President Trump also pardoned Silk Road creator, Ross Ulbricht. Silk Road was a website on the dark web where you could buy drugs, guns, or even advertise murder for hire services. Ulbricht cleared $18 million dollars in profits and at least six drug related deaths were traced to him. President Trump promised his release in exchange for the endorsement of the Libertarian party.
Many people say they voted for Trump because they like his policies. Do you like the “policy” of letting convicted felons who attack law enforcement officers go free? Do you like the “policy” of letting drug dealers and felons walk free? Please don’t pretend you didn’t know; he told us his plans.
Support for Trump shows you only pretend to “Back the Blue” and “respect the rule of law.” The Capitol Police have been betrayed.
Update: On January 22nd on Hannity, Trump called the violence against officers “very minor instances.” He lied.
Mike Zagrobelny and Ginger Storey-Welch,
Chair and Vice-Chair of the St. Lawrence County Democratic Committee
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