Vice President-elect JD Vance has offered the clearest explanation so far about the Trump administration’s plans to pardon individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack. Speaking to media on Sunday, Vance made it clear that those who peacefully protested that day could expect their records to be cleared, while people who engaged in violence should not count on receiving pardons.
“It’s very simple,” said Vance, the former senator from Ohio. “If you protested peacefully on January 6 and were treated unfairly by Merrick Garland’s Department of Justice, you should be pardoned. But if you committed violence that day, you shouldn’t be.”
Vance’s remarks stand out because they provide more detail than President-elect Donald Trump has shared so far. Trump has mostly kept his comments vague, though he has repeatedly promised to pardon many January 6 defendants. He has even said that some protesters who assaulted Capitol police officers “had no choice” and hinted at quick action once he takes office.
“I’m going to act very quickly,” Trump told media last month. “First day. I’m looking first day.”
Trump has pledged to review each criminal case individually, aiming to distinguish between what he calls “radical” and “crazy” defendants and those he believes were acting out of desperation. But he hasn’t offered a clear explanation of who might qualify for a pardon or what specific charges would be forgiven.
Vance acknowledged there is “a little bit of a gray area” in how these cases will be handled. Still, he emphasized a commitment to fairness. “We’re committed to equal justice under the law. A lot of people were persecuted unfairly after January 6, and we need to fix that.”
Trump, during an earlier interview, expressed sympathy for those convicted, claiming they’ve “suffered long and hard.” He suggested they were victims of a corrupt system. “They had no choice,” Trump said when asked about rioters who attacked police officers. “These guys have had their lives destroyed. For two years, they’ve been suffering.”
So far, over 1,250 people have been convicted or pleaded guilty for their involvement in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. These convictions have led to significant penalties, including over 1,300 years of prison time for more than 650 defendants, alongside probation, fines, and community service. Many of these individuals faced serious charges, ranging from trespassing to using dangerous weapons against officers. According to the Justice Department, at least 608 people were charged with assaulting or obstructing federal officers, and 174 of those were accused of using deadly or dangerous weapons.
While some Republicans, like Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene, have called for all January 6 defendants to be pardoned, including those who assaulted Capitol police, Vance struck a different tone. He defended his record of supporting January 6 defendants but said not everyone deserves the same treatment.
“I donated to the January 6 political prisoner fund and got roasted for it during my Senate race,” Vance wrote on social media. “I’ve been defending these guys for years.”
Vance also questioned whether federal informants in the January 6 crowd would be eligible for pardons. “Do they get a pardon? I don’t think so,” he said.
First of all, I donated to the to the J6 political prisoner fund and got ROASTED for it during my senate race. I've been defending these guys for years.
— JD Vance (@JDVance) January 12, 2025
Second, there were federal informants in the crowd. Do they get a pardon? I don't think so. The president saying he'll look at… https://t.co/MDUWkd37fP
Vance insisted his remarks aren’t a step back from Trump’s earlier statements but rather an effort to clarify. “The president saying he’ll look at each case, and me saying the same, isn’t a walk-back,” he explained. “We care about people who were unfairly locked up. That includes people provoked and those who didn’t get a fair trial.”
This debate highlights ongoing disagreements among Trump’s allies over how to handle the January 6 cases, with some calling for blanket pardons and others, like Vance, urging a more measured approach.
