The End of Law and Order

The Jan. 6 prosecutions were initiated and overseen by Trump’s handpicked U.S. attorney in Washington and the F.B.I. director. They had the support of most Republicans, including Senator John Cornyn of Texas, who said:

“Those who planned and participated in the violence that day should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Twice impeached and convicted felon Donald Trump took the oath to uphold the Constitution, and then issued sweeping pardons to nearly all of the 1,600 rioters charged with storming the Capitol including the dozens that pled guilty to assaulting police officers. The pardons will also wipe the slate clean for violent offenders who went after the police on Jan. 6 with baseball bats, two-by-fours and bear spray and are serving prison terms.

At least, 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers militia were pardoned after being convicted of assault and seditious conspiracy. David Dempsey attacked the police with his hands, his feet, a flagpole, pepper spray and other weapons. His pardon also included Daniel Rodriguez, who was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to tasing Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered cardiac arrest and a traumatic brain injury. “Omg I did so much f—ing s— r[ight] n[ow] and got away,” he texted to his gang. “Tazzed the f— out of the blue[.]”

Trump even pardoned Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, who was serving a prison term after being convicted at trial by a jury of citizens of seditious conspiracy — a crime that requires prosecutors to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a defendant used violent force against the government.

“Republicans cannot claim to be the party of law and order while pardoning and commuting the sentences of individuals who brutally assaulted law enforcement officers in service of a violent insurrection,” said Representative Jerrold Nadler, adding: “These defendants were convicted by a jury of their peers for participating in an attack that included direct assaults on law enforcement, vandalism, trespassing, and an attempt to overturn a free and fair election through the use of force.”

Meanwhile, Biden left the United States in great shape. Border crossings are lower now than they were at the end of Trump’s last term. Inflation peaked in 2022 but is now close to the Fed’s target of 2%. The Biden administration brought more than 700,000 new manufacturing jobs to the U.S.