US President Donald Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 of his supporters involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol, who stormed the seat of American power in his name, taking swift action to assert his authority just hours after being reinstalled as president on Monday.

 

Following a day of ceremonial events, Trump signed a series of executive orders aimed at restricting immigration, dismantling environmental regulations, and rolling back initiatives promoting racial and gender diversity.

 

The decision to pardon those who participated in the Capitol riot is likely to provoke outrage among police, lawmakers, and others who faced threats to their lives during this unprecedented event in modern US history, according to Reuters. 

 

In addition, Trump instructed the US attorney general to drop all ongoing cases related to the riot.

 

“These individuals have been ruined,” Trump said upon his return to the Oval Office. “What has been done to them is a travesty.”

 

This move fulfills a campaign promise to support his followers who faced charges or imprisonment for their actions during the attack, which sought to disrupt the congressional certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.

 

Thousands of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol following his incendiary speech, breaching barriers, clashing with law enforcement, and forcing lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence to flee for safety during the certification process.

 

According to CNN, the commutations cover the sentences for 14 far-right extremists from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were convicted or charged with seditious conspiracy.

 

Other pardoned individuals included those convicted of assaulting police officers with weapons such as pipes, poles, and chemical sprays. In total, approximately 140 law enforcement officers were injured in the violence.

 

The chaos on January 6, resulted in four deaths during the attack, including a Trump supporter shot by police. Additionally, five police officers died of various causes in the aftermath of the event.