Many Republicans are very unhappy with Graham’s statements.
Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) recently made clear his opposition to President Trump’s decision to pardon individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot, particularly those who were violent toward law enforcement. Speaking in an interview on CNN’s State of the Union, Graham firmly stated that he does not support pardoning the most violent offenders from that day, especially those who physically attacked police officers defending the Capitol.
“I’ve always been clear that when you pardon individuals who assault police officers, it sends the wrong message to the public,” Graham said. “It’s not the kind of signal we want to send when it comes to protecting our law enforcement officers.” He emphasized that while the president has the constitutional power to issue pardons, this particular use of it was problematic in his view.
The South Carolina Senator also expressed frustration with actions on both sides of the political spectrum, referencing his disapproval of former President Biden’s late-term pardons for his family and individuals responsible for the deaths of two FBI agents in South Dakota. “I don’t think the public likes this,” Graham continued. “If this becomes the norm, there may be a push to limit the pardon power altogether.”
Graham’s comments reflect a broader concern about accountability, especially when it comes to violent behavior. He added during an appearance on Meet the Press that pardoning those who physically assaulted law enforcement officers was a “mistake” and could undermine public trust in the justice system.
In total, Trump granted nearly 1,500 pardons related to the January 6th incident, with around 600 of those individuals charged with offenses involving resisting or assaulting police officers. While Trump’s use of presidential pardon power may be legally sound, it remains a deeply divisive issue, particularly for those who see the violence on January 6th as a serious attack on American democracy.