Pre-Pardons: What About the 9 Republicans Who Sought a Pardon for January 6 Acts

Named in January 6 Committee Final Report

Article II, Sec. 2, of the Constitution says: “The president has the power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States, except in cases of impeachment.” 

Noteworthy: Below members of congress, within the Trump White House, and in Trump’s administration sought pre-pardons for their part in the January 6 insurrection of the Capitol. Note: A presidential pardon is for the conviction of a crime, so in those cases, they knew they would be found guilty for their involvement (e.g., planning and such for the January 6 insurrection) and thus they sought a pardon in advance (pre-pardon). Still now resolved issue to date – why not?

Those persons are who sought a Trump “pre-pardon” are seen in this article from BUSINESS INSIDER:    

1. White House Chief-of-Staff Mark Meadows (R-NC).

2. Trump personal attorney Rudy Giuliani (R-NY). 

3. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ). 

4. Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL).

5. Rep. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL).

Note: Brooks specifically said he also was writing on behalf of Gaetz for such a pardon as well.

Brooks said in a statement to Business Insider that he made the request because there was concern that Democrats would prosecute and jail Republicans following January 6, adding: “Fortunately, with time passage, more rational forces took over and no one was persecuted for performing their lawful duties, which means a pardon was unnecessary after all.”

6. Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-TX): He was a former Judge before being elected to the House. (Note: After former Trump aides testified that Gohmert sought a pardon from Trump, he denied doing so and accused the January 6 committee of spreading propaganda), saying: “I have never sought a pardon for myself and anybody who says otherwise is a liar and possibly a lot worse.”  

7. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA): Cassidy Hutchinson, the former White House aide, testified that she heard that Greene had asked for a pardon from the W/H Counsel following the Capitol riot.

In response, Greene tweeted a clip of Hutchinson's testimony, writing: “Saying ‘I heard’ means you don't know. Spreading gossip and lies is exactly what the January 6th Witch Hunt Committee is all about.”

8. Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA): Note: Perry, along with several other Republican lawmakers, refused to testify before the House January 6 committee. He said on Twitter: “The notion that I ever sought a Presidential pardon for myself or other Members of Congress is an absolute, shameless, and soulless lie.”

9. Attorney John Eastman (R-CA): Eastman pushed the “fake elector’s scheme” to overturn the 2020 election results. Eastman asked Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani to put him on a pardon list.

Following the insurrection, the House Select Committee revealed that request was in an email to Giuliani saying: “I've decided I should be on the pardon list, if that is still in the works.” 

Note: The January committee read the email out loud during a June 16 hearing, then when Eastman was deposed by the January 6 committee, and while testifying, he pleaded the Fifth Amendment 100 times.” Eastman did not respond to a request for comment about this, either. 

My 2 Cents: A simple question – why haven’t those nine been investigated fully, charged (if true), and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. 

The only reason a person like those seek a “preemptive” pardon is to get out of a crime that that they know they already or are about to commit. 

The evidence seems pretty clear to me – so I wonder, and ask again: Why no action?

Also, this from the final House Select Committee that you may have forgotten about or never read before from NPR.

Thanks for stopping by.