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Trump Pardons Over 1,500 on First Day, Fulfills Campaign Promise

president trump signs executive orders

On his first day back in the White House, President Donald Trump issued pardons to over 1,500 individuals, fulfilling a central promise of his 2024 campaign. These pardons largely focused on those convicted or facing charges related to the events of January 6, 2021, which Trump and his supporters have repeatedly referred to as a “protest” rather than an “insurrection.”

During his campaign, Trump made it clear that he viewed many of these individuals as “political prisoners” or “hostages.” True to his word, he signed an executive order granting them full pardons and directed the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss approximately another 450 ongoing cases. Many of those charged were accused of minor offenses like trespassing or unlawful entry, though some faced more serious allegations.

Among the pardoned individuals were as many as 44 with ties to Georgia, 16 of whom had served prison sentences. Nationwide, of the 1,100 cases fully adjudicated before Trump’s order, over 600 individuals had received some form of incarceration.

Trump kept his plans tightly under wraps until the moment he signed the pardons, prompting praise from his supporters and sharp criticism from his detractors. The president defended his actions by stating, “These are hostages, not criminals, and they deserve justice.”

This move contrasts sharply with the last-minute pardons issued by President Joe Biden as he left office. While Trump’s pardons were aimed at individuals with ongoing or completed federal cases, Biden’s pardons raised eyebrows for targeting “family and friends,” including his son, Hunter Biden. Critics on both sides of the aisle have questioned Biden’s approach, noting the absence of transparency or direct ties to any known federal investigations for the other family and supporters granted pardons.

Legal experts have weighed in on Trump’s sweeping pardons, noting that presidential pardons only apply to federal crimes committed before the pardon is issued. They cannot shield individuals from future charges or state-level crimes. For example, in Georgia, clemency decisions rest with the State Board of Pardons and Paroles, not the governor, making Trump’s influence on state-level prosecutions limited.

The precedent for preemptive pardons is rare but not unheard of. Past examples include President Gerald Ford’s pardon of Richard Nixon after Watergate and President Jimmy Carter’s amnesty for Vietnam draft dodgers. Supporters say, Trump’s decision marks an to bring justice to our nations and bring our nation together.

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