Capitol Police chief: Jan. 6 pardons send message that “politics is more important than policing”
washington — U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger said he was concerned full pardon President Trump issued a warning Monday night to those convicted of or facing charges of assaulting police officers capitol riot four years ago.
“I think it sends a message that politics is more important than policing,” Manger told “CBS Nightly News” anchor and editor-in-chief Norah O’Donnell on Tuesday.
Hours after Mr Trump was inaugurated sworn in On Monday, he granted clemency to about 1,500 defendants convicted of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Among those granted clemency were those convicted of violent and serious crimes, including assaulting police officers and seditious conspiracy.
The president also ordered the Justice Department to close all open cases related to the riots, abruptly ending a massive effort by the Justice Department under former President Joe Biden to hold those involved in the attacks accountable.
“I worry about my officers. I worry about what information they get out of these operations,” Mange said, adding that it could prompt officers to question why they are putting themselves at risk.
“I’m concerned about the message it sends when people who are arrested for violence against police are not held accountable,” he said. “I’m also concerned about the morale of my officers.” I’m concerned about how this will affect them, and I don’t want them to deal with some protest or arrest some people in the future and then scratch their head thinking, ‘Well, I wonder what’s going to happen with this case? ‘”
He said many officials were angry about the pardon.
“They’re frustrated and I don’t blame them,” Mange said.
“They believed they did a good job that day and it sent a message to them that it was acceptable for these people to do what they did,” he said.
Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images
Trump has long downplayed the events of that day, calling the defendants “hostages.” “These people have been eliminated,” Trump said on Monday night. “These people have been in prison for years,” Trump added on Tuesday.
According to the Justice Department, more than 140 Capitol Police and Metropolitan Police officers were attacked during the riot. More than 170 defendants have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily harm to a police officer during the siege that has disrupted Congress’ efforts to certify Biden’s victory over Trump in the 2020 election.
Mager said he was “always worried” about the safety of his people, but the job also came with risks and threats.
“Police officers will willingly put themselves in harm’s way, and they won’t ask for much,” he said. “But I will tell you, it means a lot to these officers if they know they have the support of the community and that if something happens to them, the community will do the right thing and take care of them.”
Mager also said that Biden’s commutation The life sentence of Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier “sends a very bad message” to the FBI and all law enforcement. Peltier was convicted of the 1975 killings of two FBI agents.
“Those FBI agents are still dead, and yet, the person who killed them has been released, and I think the impact that has on every man or woman who wears a badge in this country, it’s horrific for them,” Ma said. .
