Rensselaer County Democrats Condemn Presidential Pardon of January 6th Rioters
The Rensselaer County Democratic Minority Legislators filed legislation today condemning the Presidential pardons of any January 6, 2021, rioters who were found guilty of assaulting Capital police officers.
Minority Democrats express their strong objection to the broad stroke action of President Trump who issued roughly 1,500 pardons and commuted the sentences of 14 of his supporters in connection with the brutal attack on the U.S. Capital on Jan. 6, 2021, when thousands of them stormed the building amid false claims that the 2020 presidential election was rigged.
“The action of a pardon of this magnitude is no more than a disgraceful insult to our system of justice and slap in the face to our law enforcement officers who protected the Capitol that day,” said Deputy Minority Leader Nina Nichols.
“If we do not honor the extraordinary courage and bravery of the law enforcement heroes who stood in defiance of this riotous action in order to ensure that democracy survive on that infamous day, we disrespect all it stands for,” stated Minority Leader Peter Grimm.
“This issue is non-negotiable for me,” stated Legislator Ken Zalewski, the author of the resolution. “Pardoning violent rioters who attacked and injured police officers flouts the rule of law and creates a permission structure for future political violence. We cannot claim to support law enforcement officers with slogans like ‘Back the Blue’, then remain silent when those who ‘bashed the blue’ are not held fully accountable for their crimes.” Zalewski concluded, “I will not remain silent, and I call on my fellow legislators to join me in condemning these misguided and dangerous pardons.”
The Rensselaer County Minority Legislators, in their legislation call on their GOP colleagues to join them in sending their message to Washington.
The resolution will be discussed and voted on in March. Residents wanting to speak in support of this resolution should reach out to their county legislators and/or attend the Public Forum and address the full legislature on Wed. March 5 at 6:00 p.m. in the Legislative Chambers at The County Office Building located at 99 Troy Road, East Greenbush.