Trump vows to pardon Capitol riot convicts as first presidential act

Donald Trump has shared his early priorities for his potential presidency on Truth Social, stating his intention to pardon those involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.

"My first actions as your next president will be to close the border and release the January 6 hostages, who have been unlawfully imprisoned!" Trump stated last Monday.

As noted by "The Guardian," Trump's reference to the rioters as "hostages" attempts to minimize the severity of the events on January 6, 2021—a day that resulted in the deaths of 5 individuals and injuries to 140 police officers.

This pledge is likely to be controversial. The Capitol attack sparked widespread condemnation across the United States and led to Trump's impeachment. He faced charges related to the incident.

Trump and his followers' efforts to downplay the Capitol riot strike many as unprecedented. Earlier this year, a Republican-appointed judge remarked on his 37 years of service, saying he "does not remember times when such baseless justifications of criminal activity would enter the mainstream."

"I was horrified to see what findings and blatant lies permeate public opinion," said Judge Royce Lamberth, as quoted by "The Guardian."

To this point, 1,358 individuals have been indicted for their part in the riots, with nearly 500 facing charges related to assault or obstructing law enforcement. Many have already been sentenced.