Five years after the events of January 6, 2021, the attack on the U.S. Capitol remains a divisive issue in politics, with recent presidential pardons bringing the debate back to the forefront.
Senator Ruben Gallego (D-AZ) issued a statement on X, writing, "Five years later, January 6th is still a stain on our country." "Instead of wiping that stain away, some of my colleagues are choosing to honor the very people who stormed our Capitol and tried to violently overthrow our democracy," he added.
The U.S. Capitol was attacked by a crowd of people attempting to stop Congress from certifying the 2020 presidential election results. The breach occurred while lawmakers, including Gallego, were inside the building.
President Donald Trump pardoned nearly 1,600 individuals convicted of crimes committed on his first day back in office. However, according to a report by the Democrats House Judiciary Committee, at least 33 individuals who were freed have been convicted of, charged with, or arrested for subsequent crimes.
Gallego specifically criticized the decision to grant military honors to Ashli Babbitt, who was shot while attempting to breach the Speaker's Lobby during the riot.
"The people who carried out the insurrection were traitors. Ashli Babbitt was a traitor," he argued. "I will not stop fighting to undo the military honors this administration wrongly gave her."
Continued Argument
The senator then argued that "we should be honoring the Capitol Police who put their lives on the line to protect us. The officers who were beaten. The members of Congress who were ready to fight to defend our democracy. Not the people who tried to tear it all down.”
Court records show about 140 police officers were hurt during the events. They suffered severe injuries and were attacked with bats, poles, and other weapons.
House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries announced that Democrats will hold a public meeting this week to hear witness testimony on the event.
The meeting will discuss people who deny election results and now occupy important executive branch roles, as well as examine the safety risks created by pardoning hundreds of violent criminals.
As one of the lawmakers who experienced the events firsthand, Gallego has made clear he intends to remain vocal in his opposition to the history of January 6th.
