Senator Adam Schiff made headlines this week with his criticism of President Donald Trump’s pardons for Americans convicted of minor offenses related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. During an appearance on Jen Psaki’s MSNBC program, Schiff expressed outrage over the pardons, calling them a “grotesque display of power.” However, his remarks drew sharp criticism for their perceived hypocrisy, given the sweeping preemptive pardons issued by former President Joe Biden to his own allies and family members.
Schiff’s Outrage on Display
Appearing on Psaki’s show, Schiff responded to the news that Trump had pardoned more than 1,500 individuals convicted of misdemeanor activities stemming from the January 6 events. Many of these convictions were unrelated to violent actions, with some involving older retirees and minor trespassing offenses.
“There is so much I want to get to with you, Sen. Schiff,” Psaki began. “I just have to start — in the last hour, Donald Trump was in the Oval Office and pardoned 1,500 people convicted for the attack on our Capitol. You did so much important work on the January 6 Committee. What is going through your head right now?”
Schiff didn’t hold back, calling the pardons “obscene” and accusing Trump of using his presidential power irresponsibly. “It’s a grotesque display of his new power as president,” Schiff said, speculating that Trump’s pardons included individuals involved in violent actions against law enforcement and alleged white nationalist leaders. He added, “It’s hard to imagine that we were sitting in the Capitol, the site of that attack, and hours later, the man who incited that attack pardons the people who participated in it. It really is a terrible way to begin, but not a surprising way to begin the new administration.”
Context Behind the January 6 Pardons
Trump, during his campaign, had pledged to pardon many of the January 6 defendants, whom he characterized as victims of overzealous prosecution by the Biden Justice Department. More than 1,500 individuals were convicted, with many of them charged with minor offenses, including trespassing. While some were convicted of seditious conspiracy, there has been little evidence to support claims that the Capitol riot constituted an “insurrection.” In fact, Trump, during his speech on January 6, had urged supporters to peacefully protest concerns about alleged election irregularities.
Schiff’s criticism, however, ignored the contentious clemency decisions made by Biden during the final days of his presidency. Biden issued 39 pardons and 1,500 sentence commutations, sparking bipartisan scrutiny.
Biden’s Pardons Face Criticism
While Trump’s pardons for Capitol riot defendants drew attention, Biden’s mass clemency orders on his way out of office raised eyebrows, even among Democrats. The sweeping preemptive pardons included members of the January 6 Committee, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and even members of his own family.
During a December appearance on CBS’ Face the Nation, Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) expressed discomfort with some of Biden’s decisions. When asked by moderator Margaret Brennan whether she supported the pardons, Klobuchar responded bluntly: “No.” She specifically criticized the pardon of Hunter Biden, the president’s son.
“We should have some kind of outside board that governors have,” Klobuchar added, calling for more transparency in the clemency process. She noted that while some recipients may have been deserving, others left her perplexed. “I have no doubt there were some righteous pardons in this group. But there were a number that I think make no sense at all.”
The Double Standard in Clemency Criticism
Schiff’s remarks on Trump’s pardons highlight a glaring double standard when compared to the lack of scrutiny over Biden’s clemency decisions. Critics argue that while Trump’s pardons largely targeted individuals involved in minor offenses, Biden’s preemptive pardons extended to political allies and family members, raising ethical concerns.
Trump’s move to pardon January 6 defendants was consistent with his campaign promises to address what he described as overreach by the Justice Department. On the other hand, Biden’s pardons and commutations appeared politically motivated, sparking criticism even from his own party