Vice President-elect JD Vance stated in an interview on “Fox News Sunday” that those who protested peacefully on Jan. 6, 2021, and were prosecuted by the Department of Justice should be pardoned, while those who committed violence should not receive pardons. This differs slightly from former President Donald Trump’s plan to pardon his supporters who participated in the riot on his first day in office. Trump had expressed sympathy for the rioters, calling the justice system corrupt and suggesting that some were coerced into guilty pleas. Vance clarified in a follow-up statement that each case from Jan. 6 would be evaluated individually, including violent offenders who were provoked. The Trump transition team did not respond to requests for comment on Vance’s remarks. Since the Capitol riot, over 1,270 defendants have been convicted and more than 1,580 have been arrested, with many already completing their sentences or receiving no jail time. Vance emphasized the need for an equitable administration of justice, suggesting that the incoming administration would prioritize evaluating cases of individuals who may have been unjustly prosecuted or provoked into violence.
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