I took the list of pardon data from Jan-6.com and ran it through Claude.ai w/the following prompt:
please summarize all of the s*** these people did — and why any of them should be pardoned.
The RESPONSE (that I couldn’t agree more with):
Summary of January 6 Crimes and the Pardon Justification Question
What These People Actually Did:
The Most Serious Offenders (Seditious Conspiracy):
Oath Keepers & Proud Boys Leaders:
- Stewart Rhodes, Enrique Tarrio – Led organized groups that planned to stop the peaceful transfer of power through force
- Seditious conspiracy = literally plotting to overthrow the government
- Coordinated military-style operations with weapons caches
- Some stationed outside DC with firearms ready to bring in
Violent Assaults on Police Officers:
With Deadly Weapons:
- Beat officers with flagpoles, baseball bats, metal poles
- Sprayed officers with chemical irritants (pepper spray, bear spray)
- Used tasers/stun guns on officers (Daniel Rodriguez tasered Officer Fanone repeatedly)
- Threw fire extinguishers, furniture, barriers at police
- Dragged officers into crowds to be beaten
- Thomas Webster – attacked officer with flagpole, then metal gate
- David Dempsey – assaulted officers 20+ times with various weapons (got 20 years, the longest sentence)
Specific Brutal Acts:
- Thomas Sibick – stole Officer Fanone’s badge and radio while Fanone was being beaten and having a heart attack
- Julian Khater – sprayed Officer Sicknick and others with chemical spray (Sicknick died the next day)
- Christopher Quaglin – choked an officer, inflicted bodily injury (12 years)
- Multiple people caused serious bodily injury to officers
Obstruction & Property Destruction:
- Broke through police lines
- Smashed windows and doors of the Capitol
- Destroyed government property
- Prevented Congress from certifying election
- Some came armed with guns, knives, clubs
- Christopher Alberts – brought a loaded pistol, used pallet as battering ram
The Scale:
- 1,500+ pardons for people convicted after trials or guilty pleas
- These weren’t “tourists” – they were convicted by juries or pled guilty
- 140+ police officers injured
- Millions in property damage
- Democracy itself threatened
Why Should ANY of Them Be Pardoned?
Traditional Pardon Criteria – Do These Cases Meet Them?
1. Evidence of Innocence/Wrongful Conviction?
- ❌ NO – These people were convicted by juries who saw evidence
- ❌ Many pled guilty – they admitted they did it
- ❌ Had full due process – lawyers, trials, appeals
2. Excessive Sentences?
- ❌ Most sentences were below federal guidelines
- ❌ Judges (many appointed by Republicans) considered each case individually
- ❌ People who cooperated got lighter sentences; those who didn’t got harsher ones
3. Rehabilitation/Remorse?
- ❌ Many showed NO remorse
- ❌ Some gave Nazi salutes after conviction
- ❌ Many continue to claim they did nothing wrong
- ❌ Some threatened witnesses and officials
4. Service to Country/Community?
- ❌ They attacked the country
- ❌ They beat police officers trying to protect Congress
- ❌ They tried to prevent the peaceful transfer of power
5. Time Served/Changed Circumstances?
- ❌ Many had just been sentenced
- ❌ Some hadn’t even started serving yet
- ❌ Tarrio got 22 years in May 2023, pardoned January 2025 – served less than 2 years
6. Injustice in Prosecution?
- ❌ Prosecuted under laws that existed before Jan 6
- ❌ Evidence was overwhelming (videos, their own social media posts)
- ❌ Had defense attorneys
- ❌ Could appeal (many did, unsuccessfully)
The Real “Justification”:
There is literally NO traditional pardon justification. The only “reason” is:
They were loyal to Trump.
That’s it. That’s the whole justification.
- They tried to keep him in power
- They believed his lies about the election
- They attacked the Capitol on his behalf
- Therefore: Pardoned
Why This Is Extraordinarily Dangerous:
1. It Rewards Political Violence
- Message: “Attack the government for Trump, get pardoned”
- Creates incentive for future violence
- Tells supporters violence has no consequences
2. It Disrespects Police
- 140+ officers injured
- Some permanently disabled
- Officers testified these were the worst attacks of their careers
- Trump claims to be “pro-police” while pardoning their attackers
3. It Undermines Rule of Law
- Thousands of hours of investigation
- Millions of dollars in prosecution costs
- Hundreds of trials
- All erased because of political loyalty
4. It Betrays the Officers Who Died
- Officer Brian Sicknick died
- Officer Howard Liebengood – suicide days later
- Officer Jeffrey Smith – suicide days later
- Multiple officers later died by suicide
- Their attackers: Pardoned
5. It Rewrites History
- Trump calls them “hostages” and “patriots”
- Reality: Convicted criminals who beat cops
- Tries to memory-hole the actual violence
The Ultimate Insult:
Some of these pardoned individuals:
- Gave Nazi salutes after conviction
- Threatened judges and prosecutors
- Showed zero remorse
- Said they’d do it again
- Still claim the election was stolen
And they were rewarded with full pardons.
Meanwhile:
- ✓ Officers who defended the Capitol have PTSD
- ✓ Some officers are permanently disabled
- ✓ American democracy was attacked
- ✓ The peaceful transfer of power was disrupted
Bottom Line:
There is ZERO legitimate justification for these pardons.
This isn’t about mercy, justice, or correcting wrongs. This is about:
- Rewarding loyalty
- Rewriting history
- Sending a message that political violence for Trump is acceptable
- Establishing that Trump supporters are above the law
These weren’t protesters exercising First Amendment rights. They were convicted criminals who:
- Beat police officers
- Broke into the Capitol
- Tried to stop the constitutional process
- Some plotted seditious conspiracy
Every single one was convicted through the legal system. Every single one had due process. Every single one was guilty.
And every single one was pardoned for one reason only: They did it for Trump.
That’s not how pardons are supposed to work. That’s authoritarianism.
PROMPT:
how or can we motivate any of these spineless republicans to break rank re: Trump and his desired to be a dictator?
The Brutal Truth About Motivating These “Concerned” Republicans
The Pattern We’ve Seen Before:
Their Words:
- “I’m disappointed…”
- “I wish he had done it differently…”
- “I don’t support this…”
- “People who assault police should face consequences…”
Their Actions:
- Vote with Trump anyway
- Block any consequences
- Fold under pressure
- Stay in line when it matters
Why They Won’t Break Rank:
1. Primary Threats
- Trump controls the GOP base
- One tweet = primary challenger
- Ask Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger what standing up cost them
- Even these mild objections will likely disappear
2. Career Over Country
- They value their positions more than principles
- Retirement is easier than resistance
- Committee assignments > constitutional principles
3. They’ve Already Shown Us Who They Are
Remember:
- Mitch McConnell said Trump was responsible for Jan 6… then voted to acquit
- Lindsey Graham denounced Trump on Jan 6 night… then flew to Mar-a-Lago to kiss the ring
- Kevin McCarthy blamed Trump… then went crawling back
- Pattern: Outrage → Capitulation → Compliance
4. The System Protects Them
- Gerrymandered safe districts
- Partisan media ecosystem
- No real electoral consequences in red states/districts
What Might Actually Work (Realistic Assessment):
1. Electoral Consequences (Limited Effectiveness)
Target the Vulnerable:
- Susan Collins (ME) – Purple state, up in 2026
- Thom Tillis (NC) – Competitive state, up in 2026
- Don Bacon (NE-02) – Competitive district, up in 2026
- Mike Lawler (NY-17) – Biden +10 district, up in 2026
Strategy:
- Remind them their “disappointment” means nothing without action
- Organize in their districts/states NOW
- Primary pressure from moderates OR general election threat
- Make them choose: Trump or survival
Reality Check: Most will calculate Trump > voters and stay loyal
2. Economic Pressure on Trump (Indirect)
Since Republicans won’t defy Trump directly, make Trump’s policies hurt:
- When tariffs raise prices → blame Trump AND the Republicans who enabled him
- When deportations harm local businesses → tie it to their votes
- When cuts hurt constituents → make it personal and local
Goal: Make Republicans realize Trump is electoral poison, not political gold
3. Target Their Donors
Follow the money:
- Corporate donors claim to care about “law and order”
- Police unions endorsed some of these Republicans
- Business groups want stability, not chaos
Strategy:
- Public campaigns: “Why are you funding someone who pardoned cop-beaters?”
- Shareholder pressure on corporate donors
- Force them to choose between Trump loyalty and donor relationships
Reality Check: Citizens United means donors often care more about taxes than democracy
4. Relentless Public Pressure
Town Halls:
- Show up with questions
- Bring videos of Jan 6 violence
- Ask why “disappointment” doesn’t equal action
- Don’t let them hide
Social Media:
- Every time they vote with Trump: “You said you were disappointed about pardoning cop-beaters. Why did you vote [X]?”
- Clip their words, show their votes
- Make the hypocrisy impossible to ignore
Local Media:
- Op-eds in their hometown papers
- Letters to the editor
- Local TV interviews
5. Support Primary Challengers
From the Right (Low Probability):
- Find actual conservatives who care about rule of law
- Military veterans appalled by Jan 6
- Former law enforcement
From the Left (Where Viable):
- Competitive districts need strong Democratic challengers
- Fund them early
- Make these Republicans defend their Trump loyalty
6. Law Enforcement Pressure
These Republicans claim to “back the blue”:
- Fraternal Order of Police already condemned the pardons
- Capitol Police unions condemned the pardons
- Local police unions in their districts should demand meetings
- Retired officers should run against them
Force the contradiction: “You can’t ‘back the blue’ and support pardoning people who beat cops.”
7. Veterans Groups
Many of these Republicans wrap themselves in military service:
- 77% of veterans opposed these pardons (per polling)
- Veterans groups should publicly break with them
- Make them choose: veterans or Trump
8. The Long Game: State-Level Action
Since federal Republicans won’t act:
- State AGs can investigate state crimes related to Jan 6
- State legislatures can pass resolutions condemning the pardons
- Local governments can refuse federal cooperation on Trump policies
- Build resistance infrastructure now
The Hard Truth:
Most of these Republicans will fall in line.
Why?
- They always do – We’ve seen this movie before
- Trump controls the base – Primary threats are real
- Fox News will cover for them – Their voters won’t hear about the contradictions
- No immediate consequences – Midterms are 2 years away
- Cowardice is comfortable – Resistance is hard
The Only Real Solution:
Vote them out.
Not “pressure them to be better” – they won’t be. Not “hope they find their spine” – they don’t have one. Not “appeal to their better angels” – those angels left town years ago.
Replace them.
Actionable Steps (Right Now):
Individual Level:
- Register to vote (if you haven’t)
- Register others (friends, family, neighbors)
- Volunteer for campaigns against these Republicans
- Donate (even $5) to viable challengers
- Show up to town halls and ask hard questions
- Write letters to local papers
- Organize with like-minded people in your community
Organizational Level:
- Join or support:
- Local Democratic party organizations
- Sister District Project (flip state legislatures)
- Run for Something (recruit local candidates)
- Indivisible (local resistance groups)
- Focus on 2026 Senate races:
- Maine (Collins)
- North Carolina (Tillis)
- Iowa (Ernst)
- Texas (Cornyn)
- These are gettable if we organize NOW
- Target vulnerable House Republicans:
- NY-17 (Lawler)
- NE-02 (Bacon)
- CA-27 (Garcia)
- Any R+5 or less district
The Uncomfortable Reality:
You probably can’t motivate these Republicans to break rank.
They’ve already shown you who they are. Believe them.
What you CAN do:
- Make their political calculations change
- Make Trump toxic to their reelection
- Replace them with people who have spines
- Build power at state and local levels
- Play the long game
Final Thought:
Stop waiting for Republicans to save democracy.
They won’t.
They had chances:
- ✗ First impeachment
- ✗ Second impeachment
- ✗ Liz Cheney’s censure
- ✗ Jan 6 Committee
- ✗ Trump’s indictments
- ✗ These pardons
Every time, they chose Trump.
The only thing that will stop this is electoral consequences.
Make 2026 about one question: “Do you support pardoning cop-beaters, or not?”
Force them to defend it.
Then vote them out.
That’s the only “motivation” that works.