Clemency Statement from Gregg Nunziata

Executive Director Gregg Nunziata released the following statement regarding Donald Trump’s decision to grant clemency to January 6 offenders:

The events of the last twenty-four hours should remind all Americans that the rule of law depends on the commitment of American presidents to live up to their oaths of office to “preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States” and on Congress, the courts, and American citizens to hold presidents accountable to that oath.

As we previously said, “If President-Elect Trump overturns the convictions of individuals who were convicted by judges and juries or admitted guilt for crimes on January 6, he would undermine the U.S. judiciary and criminal justice system and send a message to Americans that attacking U.S. democratic institutions is appropriate and justifiable.”

President Trump’s pardons and commutations hours after taking the oath do great harm to the rule of law and send a worrying signal about the direction of his new administration. Nothing about President Biden’s disreputable misuse of the pardon power in the waning hours of his term relieves President Trump of his obligations to the law, the Constitution, and the American people. Nor do any of the former president’s unfounded claims of executive authority excuse unfounded claims of the current one.

We will continue to insist that our elected officials put their obligations under law before their political and personal ambitions.

To be connected for comment, please contact Communications Director Tony Franquiz at [email protected]

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