Politico: Violent Rioters Will Commit More Violence

Politico reports:

Trump has once again sent a disturbing message to his supporters: If you engage in political violence on my behalf, I will protect you. Tarrio, Rhodes and their associates should feel emboldened, and there is no telling what they will do with Trump now firmly behind them.

You can safely expect a fair amount of recidivism among those who were convicted — particularly the defendants convicted of violent conduct. That means that we may see and read stories in the years to come involving Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by Trump who went on to commit more — and potentially more serious — crimes.

This is not idle speculation. Several people who received pardons or commutations in the final days of Trump’s first term went on to be charged with committing more crimes. Republicans have a razor-thin majority in the House; and the 2026 midterms will be here before we know it. Real risks exist for the GOP both now and in the future. Trump and the Republicans who back this effort will not be able to hide from those developments if they come to pass.

Read the full article.

Column: Trump may come to regret his Jan. 6 pardons. The potential for political backlash is real — now and in the future, writes @POLITICOMag‘s Ankush Khardori. https://t.co/8ddwpAeMTU

— POLITICO (@politico) January 22, 2025