Trump's Pardons: A Second Term Controversy

Mon Jan 05 2026 05:27:08 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

As Donald Trump is sworn in for a second term, the ramifications of his recent pardons are felt deeply by those who defended the Capitol during the January 6th riot.

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term, during which he pardoned approximately 1,500 individuals convicted related to the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell received shocking news that those he had testified against were being released from prison. This has left a lasting impact on him and other officers who faced violence that day. Many feel that the pardons undermine their sacrifices, prompting ongoing struggles with trauma and public perception. Officers have raised concerns about the denial of violence from politicians and how it reflects on their experiences while advocating for improved support for law enforcement.

On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was inaugurated for a second term, but his administration's actions on pardoning those involved in the January 6 Capitol riots sparked outrage. Among the approximate 1,500 pardoned were individuals who had directly harmed Capitol Police officers during the violent clash.

Former Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who defended the Capitol during the riot, faced messages from federal authorities about the pardons shortly after the inauguration. Having actively fought against rioters, Gonell expressed his distress about the released individuals, many of whom he testified against.

'They tried to erase what I did,' Gonell lamented, reflecting on the deep emotional toll of the events of that day. The struggle for understanding continues as police officers who stood strong that fateful day battle with public perceptions that downplay the violence and their sacrifices.

In the years since the attack, former officers have echoed Gonell's sentiments and faced challenges in coping with their experiences, often exacerbated by political narratives that dismiss the severity of that day. Calls for better support and recognition of their sacrifices highlight an ongoing quest for justice and understanding in a divided political landscape.