Schumer marks Jan. 6, condemns potential Trump pardons of Capitol rioters

Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (N.Y.) on Monday marked the four-year anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, attacks on the U.S. Capitol and condemned the prospective pardons of the rioters who stormed the Senate and House.

Schumer, speaking moments before lawmakers were set to convene for a joint session to certify the results of the 2024 election, recalled the chaotic scene of four years ago.

“As we were going about our business, all of a sudden I felt a hand pull my collar. My security detail gripped me by the arm and told me we had to get out, a mob of rioters had broken into the Capitol and that we were not safe,” Schumer said.

“I looked to the podium and saw Vice President Pence quickly rushed out of the chamber by his detail,” he remembered.

Schumer recalled coming within 20 feet of “angry rioters” and shuddered at the thought of what might have happened if one of them had a gun.

With various media outlets on Monday replaying the harrowing footage of that attack, Schumer warned President-elect Trump that granting pardons to those rioters would be an “insult” to the Capitol Police officers who defended the building.

Multiple officers died after the melee, including Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered two strokes after being sprayed by chemical irritants.

Four other officers died by suicide in the weeks and months afterward.

“It is shamefully, utterly outrageous that the president is considering pardons for these rioters who broke the law, attacked our police officers on Jan. 6. Pardoning the criminals who assaulted police officers and tried to halt the Democratic process would be a dangerous endorsement of political violence,” Schumer said.

Trump has said he will pardon many of the Jan. 6 protesters who have been convicted of crimes during his first day in office, Jan. 20.

A Washington Post poll conducted last month found that two-thirds of Americans oppose pardons for people convicted of Jan. 6-related crimes.

Schumer argued that a pardon of Jan. 6 protesters would send a message to the world that those who use force to get their way will not be punished.

“It is wrong. It is reckless. And it would be an insult to the memory of those who died in connection with that day,” he said.

Schumer called it “one of the darkest, most shameful days in American history of our democracy” and said this Jan. 6 would be very different as Democrats would respect the results of the 2024 election.

“Today we will not see the violence we saw four years ago. Today the process will return to normal and remain solemn but peaceful,” he said.

Democrats in both chambers say they do not expect anyone to object to any state’s slate of electors.

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