GOP Senate resistance hits Trump over Jan. 6 pardons
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A small core of Senate Republicans — including former GOP leader Mitch McConnell — has denounced President Trump's near-blanket pardon of Jan 6 rioters.
Why it matters: These voices will be a distinct minority on Capitol Hill. Many Republicans are in lock-step with Trump, even over an issue as personal to lawmakers as Jan. 6.
- McConnell (R-Ky.) told Semafor "no one should excuse violence. And particularly violence against police officers."
- Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) said: "I've got concerns with any pardons for people who did any harm to police officers. Full stop. And I've also got serious concerns with all of the pardons by Biden."
- Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called Monday a "terrible day" for the Justice Department, citing the pardons by both Trump and former President Biden.
- Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska): "I'm disappointed to see that and I do fear the message that is sent to these great men and women that stood by us," she told HuffPost.
Between the lines: Look to Sens. John Curtis (R-Utah) and Todd Young (R-Ind.) as others who could criticize Trump on issues like the pardons.
- That core group of GOP Senate resisters is the likeliest to break with Trump on a host of issues, including tariffs and TikTok.
Zoom in: The extent of Trump's Jan. 6 pardons shocked many lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
- Less than two weeks ago, VP-elect JD Vance said violent offenders wouldn't be eligible for pardons.
- That view was backed up on Sunday by House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who caveated that "it's up to the president on that."
Zoom out: Many GOP senators, including Collins, Tillis and others, blasted Biden's pardons for his own family members and others.
- Biden "opened the door" to pardons, Senate GOP leader John Thune (R-S.D.) told CNN.
- Thune said Biden's pardons were the "most massive use of the pardon power that we've seen in history."
