Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 21, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba WASHINGTON — President Don- ald Trump on Monday par- doned or commuted the prison sentences of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot, including people con- victed of seditious conspiracy and assaulting police officers, using his clemency powers on his first day back in office to undo the massive prosecu- tion of the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy. Trump’s action, just hours after his return to the White House, paves the way for the release from prison of doz- ens of people found guilty of violent attacks on police, as well as leaders of far-right extremist groups convicted of plotting to stop the peaceful transfer of power after Trump lost the 2020 elec- tion to former President Joe Biden. The pardons are a culmination of Trump’s years-long campaign to re- write the history of the Jan. 6 attack that left more than 100 police officers injured as rioters — some armed with poles, bats and bear spray — over- whelmed law enforcement, shattered windows and sent lawmakers and aides running into hiding. While par- dons were expected, the speed and the scope of the clemency amounted to a stunning dismantling of the Justice Department’s effort to hold partici- pants accountable over what has been described as one of the darkest days in the county’s history. In addition to the pardons, Trump or- dered the attorney general to seek the dismissal of roughly 450 cases that are still pending before judges stemming from the largest investigation in Jus- tice Department history. Casting the rioters as “patriots” and “hostages,” Trump has claimed they were unfairly treated by the Justice Department that also charged him with federal crimes in two cases he contends were politically motivated. Trump said the pardons will end “a grave nation- al injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of na- tional reconciliation.” Trump’s order was met with celebra- tion by supporters and lawyers of the Jan. 6 defendants, some of whom were sentenced to more than a decade be- hind bars. “We are deeply thankful for President Trump for his actions today,” said James Lee Bright, an attorney who represented Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was serving an 18-year prison sen- tence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes. It’s unclear how quickly those who are serving prison sentences may be re- leased. An attorney for Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys national chair- man who was sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy, said he expected his client to be released from prison Monday night. “This marks a pivotal moment in our client’s life, and it symbolizes a turning point for our nation,” attorney Nayib Hassan said in a statement. “We are optimistic for the future, as we now turn the page on this chapter, embracing new possibilities and opportunities.” Democrats slammed the move to extend the pardons to violent rioters, many of whose crimes were captured on camera and broadcast on live TV. Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution.” “Donald Trump is ushering in a Gold- en Age for people that break the law and attempt to overthrow the government,” Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schu- mer said in an emailed statement. Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who lost conscious- ness and suffered a heart attack after a rioter shocked him with a stun gun, appeared stunned to learn from an As- sociated Press reporter that those who assaulted police officers are among the pardon recipients. “This is what the American people voted for,” he said. “How do you react to something like that?” Fanone said he has spent the past four years worried about his safety and the well-being of his family. Pardoning his assailants only compounds his fears, he said. “I think they’re cowards,” he said. “Their strength was in their numbers and the mob mentality. And as individ- uals, they are who they are.” Trump had suggested in the weeks leading up to his return to the White House that instead of blanket par- dons, he would look at the Jan. 6 de- fendants on a case-by-case basis. And Vice-President JD Vance had said just days ago that people responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “ob- viously” should not be pardoned. The pardons come weeks after the Justice Department abandoned its two federal criminal cases against Trump, citing its policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. Had Trump lost the 2024 election, he may have ultimately stood trial on charges in his 2020 elec- tion interference case in the same fed- eral courthouse in Washington where more than 1,200 of his supporters were convicted of Jan. 6 crimes over the last four years. Hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants who didn’t engage in any of the violence and destruction were charged with mis- demeanor trespassing offences, and many of those served little to no time behind bars. But the violence that day has been documented extensively through vid- eos, testimony and other evidence seen by judges and jurors in the courthouse within view of the Capitol. Police were dragged into the crowd and beaten. Rioters used makeshift weapons to attack police, including flagpoles, a crutch and a hockey stick. Investigators documented a number of firearms in the crowd, along with knives, a pitchfork, a tomahawk axe, brass knuckle gloves and other weapons. Officers have described in testimony fearing for their lives as members of the mob hurled insults and obscenities at them. Of the more than 1,500 people charged, about 250 people were con- victed of crimes by a judge or a jury af- ter a trial, while more than 1,000 others had pleaded guilty to offences. Only two people were acquitted of all charges by judges after bench trials. No jury has fully acquitted a Capitol riot defendant. More than 1,000 rioters have already been sentenced, with over 700 receiv- ing at least some time behind bars. The rest were given some combination of probation, community service, home detention or fines. — The Associated Press MONTEBELLO, Que. — Finance Min- ister Dominic LeBlanc says Donald Trump’s suggestion that he will impose sweeping tariffs on Canada on Feb. 1 is “nothing new,” and insists Canada has plans ready for several possible scen- arios. LeBlanc and Foreign Affairs Minis- ter Mélanie Joly stepped out of a cab- inet meeting in Montebello, Que., to de- liver a statement to reassure Canadians after the newly installed U.S. president signed a stack of unrelated executive orders Monday evening. Trump told reporters: “We are think- ing in terms of 25 per cent on Mexico and Canada because they are allowing vast number of people, Canada is a very bad abuser also, vast numbers of people to come in and fentanyl to come in.” LeBlanc, who said Trump is known to be unpredictable, said that should not come as a surprise. “Our country is absolutely ready to respond to any one of these scenarios,” he said. “We still continue to believe that it would be a mistake for the American government to proceed with imposing tariffs.” Joly said the government’s plan is to keep working to prevent tariffs from happening, to prepare possible retalia- tory actions and to create a long-term response. She called on political leaders “across the board, across the country” to stand united. The pair did not take questions. Earlier in the day, cabinet ministers were careful not to declare victory af- ter Trump was sworn into office with- out mentioning Canada at all, and with no sign of the punishing tariffs he’s been threatening since the November election. “We’re very cautious. We know we can make sure that this is a win-win relationship,” Joly told reporters in the afternoon. Joly, who was in Washington last week, touted the relationship-building work she and her colleagues have been doing south of the border in an attempt to prevent the tariffs. Despite that outreach, the federal government learned through a report in the Wall Street Journal on Monday morning that Trump planned instead to sign an executive order launching an investigation into alleged unfair trade and currency practices by Canada, Mexico and China. Joly chalked up the lack of communi- cation to “a level of disorganization” as the Trump administration takes over. Trump had threatened back in Nov- ember that a 25 per cent across-the- board tariff on Canada would be one of his first actions on his first day back in office. “This was news today. It is important news, and at the same time we will be working on preventing tariffs and pre- paring a response,” Joly said. The federal government had sever- al plans ready to deploy in the event Trump signed an executive order im- posing tariffs on Monday. The plans include billions of dollars in possible retaliatory tariffs hitting key U.S. sectors, including orange juice, ceramics, plastics and steel prod- ucts. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said every commodity must be con- sidered as part of the response, includ- ing energy exports. When he first threatened the tariffs, Trump said they were a response to what he called a lack of action by Can- ada and Mexico to keep migrants and illegal drugs out of the United States. The Liberal government laid out a $1.3-billion plan to shore up border security over six years in December that includes extra police and bor- der guards, helicopters, drones and drug-sniffing dogs. Public Safety Minister David Mc- Guinty said the co-operation between Canadian and American officials on the border is very strong. “I think it’s important for Canadians and Americans both to remember this: we have a very strong border, and what we’re doing is making it stronger,” he said. Joly said “it was all about the border, and we did the job on the border,” add- ing that she got positive feedback in Washington about the changes Canada promised. But in recent weeks, Trump has pivoted to saying the tariffs are be- ing introduced because of the United States’ trade deficit with Canada. “If the administration wants to study the economic and trade relationship be- tween Canada and the United States, we think that’s a positive opportunity for us,” said LeBlanc. In a statement issued Monday, Tru- deau congratulated Trump on his in- auguration and cited Canada’s efforts to secure the border in response to the Republican leader’s demands for a crackdown on migrants and drugs. “We are strongest when we work together,” Trudeau wrote. — The Canadian Press TOP NEWS A3 TUESDAY JANUARY 21, 2025 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM Trump’s Feb. 1 tariff comments ‘nothing new’: finance minister SARAH RITCHIE AND KYLE DUGGAN SEAN KILPATRICK / THE CANADIAN PRESS Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly (centre), Public Safety Minister David McGuinty (left) and Finance Minister Dominic LeBlanc speak to reporters prior to a meeting during a cabinet retreat at Chateau Montebello in Montebello, Que., on Monday. Trump pardons Jan. 6 defendants ALANNA DURKIN RICHER AND MICHAEL KUNZELMAN Rioters who attacked police at Capitol among those to be released MATT ROURKE / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS President Donald Trump holds up an executive order after signing it at an indoor presidential Inauguration parade event in Washington, Monday. ;