Democrats hold rage session over Trump's Jan. 6 pardons
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Donald Trump signs executive orders in the Oval Office on Jan. 20, 2025. Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
Whatever sufferance President Trump may have enjoyed from congressional Democrats evaporated instantly just hours after his inauguration when he pardoned most Jan. 6 defendants.
Why it matters: Even moderate Democrats who had hoped against hope that they could work with the self-styled dealmaker say the move bodes poorly.
- "We do want to work together, and hopefully that's what will happen," said Rep. Greg Landsman (D-Ohio), a leading member of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus.
- But "between Trump's very grim [inaugural] speech and ... the fact he ended the day by releasing hundreds of violent criminals back into our communities, I think he has some work to do."
Driving the news: In their closed-door caucus meeting Wednesday, House Democrats were shown videos of three separate cases of assaults on police officers during the Jan. 6 attack, according to multiple sources who were present.
- The footage included Officer Daniel Hodges having his gas mask ripped off and being crushed in a door and Officer Michael Fanone being tased. Both testified to the Jan. 6 committee about their experiences.
- Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), a former Jan. 6 committee member, also spoke in the meeting about his sit-down with the mother of Officer Brian Sicknick, who died from injuries sustained in the attack.
What we're hearing: "It was f***ing brutal," Rep. Becca Balint (D-Vt.), who said the footage reminded members "how violent these people are and how they are being released back into their communities."
- "We're not going to let this go. It's horrifying," she added.
- Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said there was "a lot of anger, a lot of frustration and, quite frankly, a lot of bitterness. ... It's just disgusting."
Between the lines: It wasn't merely Trump's choice to pardon some Jan. 6 criminal defendants that so shocked and horrified Democrats. Everyone saw that coming.
- Rather, it was his decision to pardon virtually every rioter, including those convicted of assaulting police officers, that has Democrats so up in arms.
- Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.) said one could argue — though he personally wouldn't — that Trump could have "done it with some surgical precision, maybe [pardoned] people who were here who didn't engage in violence against police officers."
Yes, but: Some centrist Democrats aren't giving up hope that Trump will ultimately cut deals with their party when necessary.
- "I came in in 2017. I learned quickly, what this type of operation wants you to do is get distracted. You can't get distracted," said Rep. Jimmy Panetta (D-Calif.)
- "The natural inclination is, you know, we're mad at things he does and we want to fight right away, but we've got to try to rise above that and try to find common ground," said Problem Solvers co-chair Tom Suozzi (D-N.Y.).
The bottom line: Asked if he's seen any indication yet that Trump is willing to meet him halfway in finding common ground, Suozzi grinned.
- "The indications, you have to really look for them very carefully," he quipped.
