Local FOP leaders mum on pardoning police attacks
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Trump supporters clash with police at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Photographer: Victor J. Blue/Bloomberg via Getty Images
Chicago's police union leader, John Catanzara, has been a vocal supporter of President Trump, but he's mum on the president's decision to pardon Jan. 6 rioters, including those who attacked police.
Why it matters: Catanzara's silence comes at a time when the national Fraternal Order of Police and police chiefs across the country are condemning the president's near-total pardon of about 1,500 Jan. 6 criminals and defendants, many convicted of assaulting 140 law enforcement officers.
- The police leaders called the pardons a "dangerous message."
What they're saying: The national FOP and International Association of Chiefs of Police said Tuesday they're deeply discouraged by the recent pardons and commutations by both former President Biden and Trump.
- In addition to Trump's pardons, Biden commuted the life sentence of indigenous activist Leonard Peltier, who was convicted in the 1975 killings of two FBI agents in a case long-disputed by Native American advocates.
Flashback: In the wake of the Jan. 6 riot, Catanzara said the participants acted "out of frustration."
- "There was no arson, there was no burning of anything, there was no looting, there was very little destruction of property," Catanzara said at the time.
- He later apologized and said Trump "needs to accept responsibility."
Zoom in: Representatives of the Chicago and Illinois Fraternal Orders of Police told Axios on Tuesday that they didn't want to comment on the pardons.
- When Axios asked Wednesday if they agreed with the National FOP's condemnation, both declined to comment.
- CPD also had no comment.
By the numbers: More than 50 Illinoisans were charged after the Jan. 6 riots, and 10 resided in Chicago when they were charged, according to NPR.
- Among the Chicagoans was former Chicago Police officer Karol J. Chwiesiuk, who along with his sister, Agnieszka, was convicted of misdemeanors including disorderly conduct at the Capitol.
- Of the 1,575 who were charged federally, 1,030 pleaded guilty.
- 64% of those sentenced have received prison time.
Other Chicago pardons:
- Matthew Bokoski pleaded guilty to "parading, demonstrating and picketing in the Capitol building."
- Trudy Castle pleaded guilty to "parading, demonstrating and picketing in the Capitol building."
- Kimberly DiFrancesco pleaded guilty to "parading, demonstrating and picketing in the Capitol building."
- Kevin James Lyons was found guilty of "remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building" among other charges.
- Daniel Leyden pleaded guilty to "assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon."
- James McNamara pleaded guilty to "assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers."
- Athanasios Zoyganeles pleaded guilty to "parading, demonstrating and picketing in the Capitol building."
- James Robert Elliott pleaded guilty to "assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers or employees."
- Patrick Gorski was not yet tried but was charged with "obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Disorderly or disruptive conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating and picketing in the Capitol building."