Staff Reports
In 2024, Donald Trump could be returning to the White House. During a rally in support of the Family Research Council's Pray Vote Stand campaign, he said that he would establish a task force to look into the cases of political prisoners that he believes were unjustly prosecuted by the previous administration. If he won the election, he would immediately pardon or commute the sentences of these individuals.
In response to the mass arrests and sentences handed down to those involved in the demonstrations on January 6, 2021, Trump said that he was concerned about the heavy sentences that were being imposed. He also noted that he was committed to fighting for Christians.
Besides Trump, other presidential candidates also said that they would consider pardoning the individuals who were prosecuted by the Justice Department under the leadership of Joe Biden. Vivek Ramaswamy, a Republican candidate for president, proposed pardoning those who participated in the peaceful January 6 protests. He noted that the actions of BLM and Antifa rioters were not being handled by the justice system.
During his campaign, Ramaswamy promised to pardon all individuals who were arrested and charged with politically-motivated crimes, including those who participated in the peaceful protests on January 6. He also demanded that the Department of Justice and former Vice President Joe Biden stop these prosecutions.
Although Trump and Ramaswamy's proposals to pardon political prisoners are ambitious, it is not yet clear if they can deliver on their pledges. Both candidates are committed to addressing the injustices that they believe were carried out by the previous administration.
