“Freed by the president, they have never been more dangerous,” the ex-prosecutor added.
Ballou, who resigned from the Justice Department on Thursday, then listed two high-profile Jan. 6 defendants, Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who were recently freed from prison, as examples.
Trump issued around 1,500 “full, complete and unconditional pardons” for defendants prosecuted in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.
“[I] don’t agree with the pardoning of people that committed violence or even damage to property,” Rep. Jay Obernolte (R-Calif.) said.
“In such a scenario, the president could put those loyal to him above the law, quite literally,”he continued.
Those that President Trump pardoned for their involvement in the Jan. The attack on the Capitol on June 6, 2021, has “never been deadlier.”. “”.
Ballou urged local authorities to defend immigrants and other groups he believes the defendants might target first in an essay the New York Times published on Friday.
He wrote: “Many convicted rioters are emboldened by the termination of what they see as unjust prosecutions, while some seem genuinely remorseful and others appear simply ready to put politics behind them.”.
“They have never been more dangerous since the president freed them,” the former prosecutor continued.
Ballou then named two prominent Jans, after resigning from the Justice Department on Thursday. Six defendants were used as examples, including Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, and Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, who was just released from prison.
“They have already expressed their desire for vengeance, and they are now free to do so,” Ballou said.
In his remarks upon his return to office on Monday, he contended that Trump’s pardons have the effect of “encouraging vigilantes and militias loyal to the president, but unaccountable to the government”. “”.
Ballou stated that “such militia groups, whose organization and seriousness can range widely, from the vigilantes who enforce Iran’s hijab dress code to the United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia that have killed government opponents,” are frequently used by illiberal democracies and outright dictatorships.
Trump pardoned about 1,500 defendants who were charged in connection with the Jan. 6-riot. A total of 1,583 individuals were charged. The action has drawn harsh criticism from Democrats and even caused rifts among Republican lawmakers in the House.
Rep. “[I] disagree with the pardoning of those who have committed acts of violence or even property damage.”. R-Calif Jay Obernolte. said. “I don’t think it was appropriate to pardon them because I believe you probably knew what you were doing was illegal if you climbed in through a window.”. “”.
Ballou said Trump “carried out his agenda and silenced his critics through violence” by releasing some of the violent defendants. “”.
Vigilantes might abuse, harass, or even murder people who were thought to be state enemies. According to Ballou’s opinion piece, “The president could pardon these vigilantes for federal crimes or pressure compliant governors to do the same for state ones under the flimsy pretext that they were acting in self-defense.”.
The president could literally put his supporters above the law in such a situation, he added. We may see more violence like this in the future, but it was a part of the past. “”.
According to him, local law enforcement should “prioritize” protecting opposition lawmakers, immigrants, and transgender individuals first because they may be the first to be targeted.