On January 20, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order granting pardons to more than 1,500 individuals who were involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. This move also directs the U.S. Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against those accused of participating in the insurrection.

The executive order was signed right after Trump was sworn in as the 47th President inside the U.S. Capitol, the very building that was stormed by his supporters in 2021 as lawmakers worked to certify Joe Biden’s election victory.

At the signing ceremony in the Oval Office, Trump showed a list of people receiving full pardons. He called the decision “a big one,” adding that the lives of these individuals had been “destroyed” by the legal system. Trump described the treatment of those involved as “outrageous” and stated that this action would help heal the nation and start a process of “national reconciliation.”

Out of the 1,583 people charged in relation to the Capitol riot, many faced serious charges, including assaulting law enforcement officers or obstructing justice. Some even used dangerous weapons during the attack, which resulted in injuries to several officers.

One of the high-profile figures who received a commuted sentence was Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia group. Rhodes played a key role in organizing the group’s actions but did not enter the Capitol. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023.

Trump’s pardons were met with criticism from former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who called the decision “an outrageous insult” to the justice system and to the officers who suffered during the attack.