Two-thirds in new poll oppose Trump’s idea of pardons for Jan. 6 rioters

Just over two-thirds of registered voters in a new poll said they do not believe that those who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot should be pardoned, an idea that has been floated by former President Trump.

The new Morning Consult-Politico poll released Wednesday shows that 68 percent of respondents said they do not believe rioters should receive pardons, which Trump suggested as an idea in the last days of his presidency and has said is something he would consider if he were reelected in 2024.

Just 20 percent of the survey takers said that the rioters probably should be pardoned. Twelve percent said they had no opinion.

Of those respondents who said they voted for Trump in 2020, just over half of them, 53 percent, responded that they also did not agree with Trump’s idea to pardon the Jan. 6 Capitol rioters, whereas 83 percent of those who voted for President Biden said they disagreed with riot pardons.

Trump last month said during a rally in Texas that he would consider pardoning those charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, saying he would treat them “fairly” if he were to be reelected as president. 

“If I run and if I win, we will treat those people from Jan. 6 fairly. And if it requires pardons, we will give them pardons,” he continued. “They are being treated so unfairly,” said Trump while speaking to a crowd of supporters in late January.

Hundreds of people have been arrested in relation to the Capitol attack, and 165 have people have pleaded guilty as of last month.

Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called Trump’s statements about pardoning rioters “inappropriate,” while Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said, “I would not be in favor of shortening any of the sentences for any of the people who pleaded guilty to crimes.”

Thus far, Trump has not definitively said whether or not he will run for president in 2024.