Senator Coons statement on President Trump’s release of January 6 criminals

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.) issued the following statement in response to President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon or commute the sentence of every criminal convicted for their role in the January 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, as well as ordering the end of all pending U.S. Department of Justice cases against January 6 rioters:
“In one of his first acts, President Trump released hundreds of violent criminals back onto our streets, many of whom assaulted police officers. Few of these criminals have shown any remorse for their crimes. Several have expressed their intention to commit further acts of violence. Americans are at greater risk today because of President Trump’s shameless disregard for the safety of law enforcement and American lives.
“President Trump’s pardons send a clear message to criminals that any crime, even assault on a police officer, is acceptable as long as the president believes the criminals are on his side. I pray that this decision won’t lead to more politically motivated violence, assaults, and deaths over the coming years, but if it does, then Donald Trump will be to blame.”
Senator Coons is Co-Chair of the Senate Law Enforcement Caucus and a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.