Several Republican members of Congress have taken aim at former President Donald Trump over his comments about pardoning protesters that were present during the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
While speaking with The Hill, Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), Mike Rounds (R-S.D.), and Mitt Romney (R-Utah) shared their disagreement with Trump's promise.
Graham, one of Trump's closest allies — who suggested that more riots would occur if Trump were prosecuted following the FBI's raid of his Mar-a-Lago home — called Trump's promise of pardoning protesters a "bad idea."
Cramer agreed, saying that any future candidates running for office should not "hold pardons out as a promise."
"It's somewhat problematic for me on a moral level and an ethical level — sort of like promising other giveaways to particular individuals," Cramer said.
Graham also shared a similar sentiment in his comments, saying that pardons are to be used for specific people, not just political allies.
"Pardons are given to people who admit misconduct, rehabilitate themselves. They're not supposed to be used for other purposes," Graham said.
Romney, who voted to impeach Trump following the events of Jan. 6, said pardoning anyone who stormed the Capitol to overturn the election is wrong.
"The Jan. 6 riot was an attack on the temple of democracy, and the people who violated the law, attacked our law enforcement, and besmirched our nation's Capitol should be prosecuted according to the law, and certainly should not be pardoned," Romney said. "It's a grossly inappropriate comment to make."
Senate Republican Whip John Thune (S.D.) also shared that people convicted of their wrongdoings on Jan. 6 must face punishment.
"The only people that get pardoned are people who are charged with crimes. If they were charged with crimes, they ought to be prosecuted like everybody else," Thune said. "The rule of law applies. If people broke laws, they need to be held accountable."
But the GOP isn't in complete agreement on this issue, as some, like Missouri Senator Josh Hawley, think pardons could be considered, depending on who Trump would pardon if he wins the 2024 presidential election.
"Let's see which ones he would choose to do," Hawley said to The Hill. "There's no question it has been a massive prosecutorial effort. "
Hawley did clarify that he thinks those who committed "violent crimes" on Jan. 6 should be prosecuted but added that he thinks "the question becomes, are there people who've been caught up in this dragnet who, for instance, didn't know that they were trespassing?"
Nonetheless, Graham said that any pardons to people who attempted to stop the peaceful transition of power would create a bad precedent.
"It reinforces violence. The people who defiled the Capitol and took the law in their own hands deserve to be brought to justice," Graham said.
Related
Related
