US President Donald Trump has issued "full, complete and unconditional" pardons or commutations to almost 1,600 people convicted or charged in connection with the 2021 US Capitol riots. Trump also signed an order directing the Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against suspects accused of involvement in the riot.

Republican senators struggled to defend Donald Trump’s decision to commute and pardon hundreds of January 6 protesters including those who were charged and convicted of crimes against police officers,

The pardons did not come as a surprise. As Senate Republicans were cheering for Trump on his march to electoral victory, the former and now current president exalted the “hostages” and “patriots” who injured more than 140 law enforcement officers and caused north of $2.8 million in damage to the Capitol, according to the Department of Justice.