Over 200 US Capitol rioters freed from prison after Trump’s sweeping pardon for Jan 6 prosecution

The sweeping pardons Trump announced with the stroke of a pen on his first day in office on January 20 includes clemency to those who were caught on camera attacking police and far right extremist leaders orchestrating violent plot to stop the peaceful transfer of power after his 2020 election loss.

Supporters of President Donald Trump, Kevin Loftus, left and William Sarsfield III, center, who were convicted for participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, talk to reporters after being pardoned and released in the early morning hours from the Philadelphia Federal Detention Center before traveling to Washington. (AP Photo)

Trump’s sweeping pardons to all the over 1,500 people accused in Capitol riots has garnered condemnation from police, which fought with the violent mob, their family members and lawmakers, some of whom belong to the new president’s Republican party.

Among the 211 freed from prisons on Tuesday was Stewart Rhodes, who had been jailed for 18 years after being found guilty of plotting to use force to prevent Congress from certifying former President Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election against Trump.

“It’s redemption, but also vindication,” Rhodes said outside the Washington D.C jail, where a crowd of Trump supporters waited for other prisoners to be freed and come out, reported Reuters.

According to AP, more than 100 police officers were injured in the mob attack on January 6 at the US Capitol and even Trump’s Vice President pick JD Vance had recently said that rioters who assaulted police officers “obviously” shouldn’t be pardoned.

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