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Vice President-elect JD Vance addressed the contentious issue of pardons for January 6 Capitol riot participants, revealing a more cautious stance compared to President-elect Donald Trump.
During an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Vance differentiated between peaceful protesters and violent offenders, signaling that his administration will take a nuanced approach to clemency.
“If you protested peacefully on Jan. 6 and you’ve had [Attorney General] Merrick Garland’s Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you should be pardoned,” Vance said. However, he drew a firm line against extending pardons to those who engaged in violent acts. “If you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.”
This measured perspective contrasts with Trump’s broader promises regarding Jan. 6 pardons. In a December interview on NBC’s Meet the Press, Trump pledged to pardon his supporters, including those convicted of violent crimes, on his first day in office. He cited what he called a “corrupt system” as justification for his stance.
“They’ve been in there for years, and they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open,” Trump said, emphasizing the harsh treatment many rioters faced during prosecution. He also suggested that some of the guilty pleas were coerced due to the prospect of longer sentences, saying, “They say to a guy, ‘You’re going to go to jail for two years or for 30 years.’”
Vance acknowledged the complexities of individual cases, hinting at some room for reevaluation even for violent offenders. “There’s a little bit of a gray area there,” he said, adding, “We’re very much committed to seeing the equal administration of law.”
In a later post on X, formerly Twitter, Vance clarified his position, reiterating the importance of justice. “We care about people unjustly locked up. Yes, that includes people provoked and it includes people who got a garbage trial,” he wrote.
The issue of January 6 pardons remains polarizing. Since the Capitol riot, over 1,580 individuals have been arrested, with more than 1,270 convictions. Trump’s forthcoming decisions on clemency will be closely scrutinized, as will the administration’s broader stance on justice reform.
