Summary
The Justice Department is accelerating efforts to arrest the most violent Jan. 6 rioters, particularly those who committed felonies against law enforcement, ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Trump has vowed to pardon some rioters, calling them “patriots” and “political prisoners.”
Prosecutors are instructed to expedite cases, emphasizing the need for justice for victims, primarily police officers who faced severe assaults.
Many prosecutors and victims, like retired Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, express dismay at the prospect of pardons, fearing it undermines accountability for the violence at the Capitol.
Plus they’ll still be on record as having been convicted of a crime. They may be legally exonerated after a pardon but their names will still show up in a search–probably make it more difficult to find a job.
A presidential pardon is an admission of guilt.