Under no circumstances do I think pardoning the violent criminals who beat police officers on January 6, 2021, and who attacked the U.S. Capitol to try to stop a "peaceful transfer of power," is acceptable. It is vile, corrupt, despicable. A total gut-punch to anyone who respects the Rule of Law & Justice in America. It is a black mark, a stain, on my beloved Country. This is not a Democrat vs Republican thing. We have now reached a level of deep political nihilism I just didn't think was possible. WTF. I am usually quite the optimistic & hopeful sort, but this is just a terrible, unconscionable action by a clearly corrupt & morally bankrupt man. Dark days are here.
More here from Heather Cox Richardson: "Trump’s blanket pardons signal to his MAGA base that the judicial system that tried to hold him—and them—accountable is corrupt and that he will protect those who fight for him in the streets. But those pardons do not appear to have popular support.
At the same time, Trump is demonstrating that he intends to create a country dominated by the right-wing, white men who supported him. It is not clear that that intent is any more popular than his pardons for the January 6 rioters."
