Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., on Sunday said that he believes it was “a mistake” for President Donald Trump to pardon those who were convicted of violent crimes or pled guilty to committing violent crimes during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the Capitol.
“Pardoning the people who went into the Capitol and beat up a police officer violently I think was a mistake, because it seems to suggest that’s an okay thing to do,” Graham told NBC News’ “Meet the Press.”
Graham tied Trump’s decision to pardon violent offenders with former President Joe Biden’s decision to pardon several of his family members during his last few hours in office last week.
“You know, Biden pardoned half his family going out the door. I think most Americans, if this continues … will revisit the pardon power of the president, if this continues,” Graham told “Meet the Press” moderator Kristen Welker.
He added, “as to pardoning violent people who beat up cops, I think that’s a mistake.”
On Monday, just hours after he was sworn into a second term, Trump used his presidential pardon power to pardon roughly 1,500 of his supporters who pled guilty or were convicted for their actions on Jan. 6, fulfilling one of his most oft-repeated campaign promises.
His pardons included those who were found guilty or pled guilty to committing violent crimes on a day when over 140 police officers were injured.
Still, Graham emphasized that Trump’s decision to pardon his supporters was fulfilling a promise he made on the campaign trail.
“There are a lot of people who supported President Trump — law enforcement — [that] didn’t like this, but he said it during the campaign. He’s not tricking people,” Graham said.
He added, “I’ll be consistent here. I don’t like the idea of bailing people out of jail or pardoning people who burn down cities and beat up cops, whether you’re a Republican or a Democrat.”
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