The largest police organization in the US which backed Donald Trump in the last three elections condemned the president’s decision to pardon 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters, some of whom were convicted of attacking law enforcement officers.
“Crimes against law enforcement are not just attacks on individuals or public safety — they are attacks on society and undermine the rule of law,’ the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) said in a joint statement on Tuesday.
“Allowing those convicted of these crimes to be released early diminishes accountability and devalues the sacrifices made by courageous law enforcement officers and their families.”
Trump signed an executive order Monday night granting a “full, complete and unconditional pardon” for 1,500 defendants charged or convicted related to the Capitol Hill riots on Jan. 6, 2021.
A majority of the charges were related to unlawful entry and disorderly conduct when the mob breached the Capitol, but some were handed multi-year sentences for assault on police officers or other more serious crimes.
He also commuted 14 prison sentences, including Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.
“When perpetrators of crimes, especially serious crimes, are not held fully accountable, it
sends a dangerous message that the consequences for attacking law enforcement are
not severe, potentially emboldening others to commit similar acts of violence,” the two police organizations said.
The Fraternal Order of Police, which boasts membership of more than 377,000 sworn law enforcement officers across the country, endorsed Trump in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
