Trump’s J6 Pardons Increased Risks to Public Safety

Photograph Source: Tyler Merbler from USA – DSC09265-2 – CC BY 2.0

One year ago this January, in one of the first acts of his second term, President Donald Trump issued blanket pardons, clemency, or commutations to those charged in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. These included unconditional pardons for the majority of defendants and commutations for high-profile leaders of the insurrection.

While presidential clemency is constitutionally legitimate...