Vice President JD Vance has criticized U.S. intelligence bureaucrats, stating that they are “out of control.”
Vice President JD Vance defended President Trump’s decision to grant clemency to more than 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riots, despite having previously opposed pardoning violent offenders.
In an interview on CBS News’ Face the Nation, Vance, 40, explained that the Trump administration followed through on its promise to review each case individually, stating, “What the president said throughout the campaign was that he would look at these cases on a case-by-case basis… and that’s exactly what we did.” He highlighted that over 1,600 cases had been evaluated, and many rioters had been denied their constitutional rights and due process. Vance strongly supported the decision, asserting it was the right move.
Throughout his 2024 campaign, Trump had promised to grant clemency to those involved in the riots but was vague about how he would approach the issue. Vance had previously said that those who “protested peacefully” deserved pardons, but those who engaged in violent acts should not be forgiven. However, many of the rioters were charged with assaulting law enforcement officers, and some were sentenced to long prison terms for their violent actions during the riot.
Vance acknowledged the controversy surrounding the pardons, especially since some rioters had attacked police officers. However, he criticized the Biden administration for prosecuting individuals based on political motivations. “Violence against a police officer is never justified. But that doesn’t mean you should be subjected to an unfair process,” Vance said. He also drew a comparison between the treatment of January 6th rioters and the more lenient approach toward Black Lives Matter protesters in 2020, accusing the Justice Department of a “double standard.”
Despite pushback, including from some Republicans, Vance stood by Trump’s decision, stating, “We rectified a wrong, and I stand by it.”
Critics, such as Senator Lindsey Graham (R-SC), expressed concern that pardoning those who attacked police officers could send the wrong message. “When you pardon people who attack police officers, you’re sending the wrong signal,” Graham said.
Trump’s decision came amid a flurry of executive actions following his return to office. He defended the pardons, arguing that the individuals affected had already served significant time and had been “destroyed” by their involvement in the riots.
In the aftermath, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy, was spotted in the Longworth House Office Building, which raised concerns among lawmakers. Additionally, Trump instructed the Justice Department to halt prosecutions in around 450 cases still linked to the January 6th events.
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