In a bold move, former President Donald Trump extended sweeping pardons and sentence reductions to individuals involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Over 1,550 rioters facing charges ranging from trespassing to assaulting officers were granted formal pardons. Additionally, 14 members of far-right groups like the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers saw their sentences commuted to time served. Trump also directed the Justice Department to drop pending criminal cases against Jan. 6 defendants and instructed the Bureau of Prisons to immediately release around 240 incarcerated rioters. This decision has ignited fierce debate, with critics arguing it undermines accountability for the violence that day. The pardons included about 1,000 nonviolent offenders who entered the Capitol grounds or building but were not involved in physical harm or property damage. However, a federal appeals court has previously noted that even nonviolent participants contributed to the chaos that unfolded. This mass clemency marks one of the largest acts of presidential pardon power in recent history, raising questions about its implications for justice and the rule of law. The move has drawn both support and condemnation, reflecting the deeply polarized views surrounding the events of January 6.