Violent insurrectionist David Dempsey in front on the gallows set up at the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 (Photo: U.S. District Court)
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump showed the extent to which he is willing to disrespect the laws of the United States when it comes to protecting those who commit violence and sedition in his name.
As one of his first acts, Trump pardoned approximately 1,500 January 6 rioters, including the most violent offenders and those convicted of seditious conspiracy (the crime of conspiring against the U.S. government). Among them are David Dempsey, who was serving a 20 year prison sentence for viciously assaulting Capitol Police using crutches, flag poles, pieces of broken furniture, pepper spray and anything else he could get his hands on. Dempsey struck Washington D.C. Police Seargent Jason Mastony so hard with a metal crutch that Mastony collapsed and was left stunned with a gash in his head. Trump also commuted the 18-year sentence of Stewart Rhodes, leader of the far-right anti-government paramilitary militia the Oath Keepers, who was convicted of seditious conspiracy and evidence tampering, and Enrique Tarrio, former national chairman of the neo-fascist group Proud Boys, who was serving a 22 year sentence in prison.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, about 200 January 6 defendants were charged with using deadly or dangerous weapons or causing serious bodily injury to a police officer during the January 6 riot. The judge in Stewart Rhodes’ case said last month that the prospect of Rhodes being pardoned “is frightening and ought to be frightening to anyone who cares about democracy in this country.”
Trump also pardoned Patrick McCaughey, who led the pro-Trump mob in brutally crushing Capitol Police Officer Daniel Hodges in a doorway inside the Capitol:
[Video: WUSA9, Washington D.C. TV news station, via YouTube]
All those who were convicted of crimes related to the January 6, 2021 insurrection received pardons or commutations of their sentences from Trump.
The move showed Trump will give free rein to those who commit vicious violence in his name.
The move drew no comment or public opposition from any of the billionaires who helped fund Trump’s inauguration and make up most of his cabinet.
Justice Department officials expressed alarm that the violent offenders Trump has freed might now seek to target the prosecutors who brought the cases against them, the judges who sentenced them to prison, or the witnesses who testified at their trials or otherwise cooperated with law enforcement to bring about their convictions.
Withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accords; pardoning the Jan. 6 rioters; withdrawing from the World Health Organization (which means the CDC will no longer have access to reports about disease outbreaks from all over the world); etc. Jeepers! Let’s just try to make things a little better wherever and whenever we can, right?
Trump and his followers don’t care about making anything better; they only want to make things bad (or worse) for the people they hate. That’s what makes them happy.
I think that’s likely true for some of them. But one thing that makes me sad is that much of what will be coming down the pike will hurt those of his supporters who are not among the most fortunate, and voted for him out of gut reactions and a lack of education. But *we* can still try to make things a little better whenever and wherever we are able to . . .
Do you honestly think that the United States won’t be able to get reports about disease outbreaks because
we’re withdrawing from the WHO?
Yes, I do. Just as are so many others who are quite knowledgeable about the spread of global diseases. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/the-potential-impacts-of-trumps-decision-to-withdraw-from-the-world-health-organization
Maybe RFK, Jr. can fill in?
Well. I certainly give you kudos for having something to present as evidence. Usually around here all you get is insults if you question or disagree.
But I will say that the fellow from WHO’ s argument is rather circular…the WHO is good because everyone has always believed the WHO is good. I probably need to re-read.
I am naturally skeptical of large, global organizations. I think of them as bloated and full of perverse incentives.
Interesting that the guy( forgot his name) praised Trump’s operation warp-speed.
I don’t think we’ll lose that much…and I do like RFK… mostly because he’s contrarian and we can always use a bit of that.
Cheers.
Yes, I do. And others, more knowledgeable than me agree also, as linked below. We might get late information about outbreaks and potential responses abroad, but I’d rather not rely on RFK, Jr. as the USA’s gatekeeper. https://abcnews.go.com/US/public-health-experts-implications-trump-withdrawing-us-who/story?id=117933153
Yes. As do many others more knowledgeable about the global spread of pathogens.
I hate to keep asking the same question but…it seems like you think the WHO is the only source of this kind of information…like if you let your subscription to ESPN lapse you won’t be able to watch the super bowl.
I don’t think this is how it works since we have more research facilities than any other ten countries combined.
Ummm – this year’s Super Bowl will be broadcast on Fox, and I have a Mohu antenna so I can watch it and others OTA without an ESPN subscription. So . . . please cite several authoritative sources where our country’s “research facilities” will get the latest news about disease outbreaks, OK? Apart from either Fox News or Newsmax, that is . . . I’m done.
Oh dear! You seemed so nice…but I guess not.
Newsmax and FOX?
Am I supposed to feel ashamed?
How about 2500 research laboratories at every university in the US of any size from sea to shining sea?
IOW we don’t need no stinking WHO. but they need us.
Now…I’m done.
I removed BadHatHarry’s most recent comment about the January 6 rioters who were sentenced to prison and then released by Trump because it contained many false and misleading statements about the violent January 6 rioters and their subsequent prosecutions.
“The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: Now is the time of monsters.” Antonio Gramsci (Italian Fascist resistor)
Cool, now tell us about all the pardons Biden did.
No! Na na boo boo! *
*and That’s in the Bible!
I do not refer to him as President. I call him by what he is: Sexual predator Trump. He has sunk to a new low by pardoning the J-6 offenders.
Turn off msnbc and read something. Your sanity needs it. He’s your president for the next 4 wonderful years, regardless of what you call him. Enjoy.
Sexual Predator Trump May be your President, but I’ll never give him that title and I’ll never enjoy it. I do not watch MSNBC. I do not have a television.
Why don’t you get a life and equip worrying about the president of United States weren’t ruining your life nothing’s gonna happen you’re in charge of your own life everybody is and you need to come into our country legally and there are only 2 genders the rest of it is all mental
I’m not well versed in “Trump Salad Speak”. So to understand Susan’s post, I’ll need to buy one of those $100.00 ‘Trump Decoder Rings’ that he’ll be selling in the Whitehouse merch store.
This is a guy who said in his inauguration speech: “And we are going to bring law and order back to our cities.” I guess Washington, DC isn’t among those cities.