The promises Donald Trump has been making to do a mass pardoning of Jan. 6 rioters is getting pushback from surprising quarters with aides to the former president pushing for him to be selective and members of families believing it would hide the truth about who exactly was to blame for inciting the historic insurrection.
According to a report from the Washington Post, Trump has painted himself into a bit of a corner with his pardon talk at rallies, with some J6 families wanting him to be more specific and name names, while there are those in the Trump camp to be more circumspect and take it slow if he wins reelection.
As the Post's Isaac Arnsdorf and Greg Jaffe wrote, "Trump has made pardoning Jan. 6 defendants a signature campaign promise as he seeks another term in the White House, saying in a recent interview that he would consider all of them. His vow to exercise the clemency powers of the presidency has raised alarms about his support for political violence and touched off private conversations among supporters about how to deliver on his pledge."
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That has some in Trump's inner circle urging caution, warning him to "limit his political exposure" by being clear he would not pardon the most violent participants who stormed the nation's Capitol.
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"Others are more concerned with compiling a list of names and preparing the paperwork for Trump’s signature on his first day in office. Another proposal under discussion is to convene advocacy groups for Jan. 6 defendants to make recommendations for pardons," the Post is reporting while noting that some conspiracy-minded J6 family members not only want their imprisoned family freed, they also want to make sure that there is an accounting for supposed government infiltrators whom they believe are responsible for encouraging the day's violence in an effort to make the former president look bad.
According to the report, "Some relatives of charged and convicted rioters said they are hopeful for their loved ones but oppose blanket amnesty because they want to investigate the suspicion, which lacks evidence, that undercover operatives instigated the attack."
“I don’t think pardons are a great idea for everyone, I think there should be a true investigation,” lamented Tami Jackson, whose husband, Brian, pleaded guilty to assaulting Capitol cops and is currently sitting a D.C. jail while he awaits sentencing in August.
Tami Jackson added, "I’m very much for accountability but I don’t think what my husband did warrants any jail time.”
The report adds that a focus of some families is Ray Epps, "a Trump supporter from Arizona who pleaded guilty to misdemeanor disorderly conduct and has been falsely accused of being an undercover operative."
According to Nicole Reffitt, whose husband Guy, is serving 87 months on charges that include being armed when he invaded the Capitol building, "If we do a blanket pardon, a lot of answers will not be addressed on who knew what, when and where. It’ll just be swept under the rug. There were bad actors there,” she asserted.
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