Trump sees ‘political advantage’ in floating pardons for Jan. 6 defendants: Haberman

New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman suggested Tuesday that former President Trump sees a “political advantage” in floating pardons for those convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Following Tuesday’s sentencing of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio to 22 years in prison over the Jan. 6 riot, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins asked Haberman whether “the fact that domestic terror is now a part of this” would change Trump’s mind about potential pardons.

“I don’t think it’s going to stop Trump from saying what he has been saying,” Haberman said. “He’s been fundraising to try to help some of the defendants in Jan. 6-related cases. I don’t think that this will have him adjust anything.” 

“I’m sure his lawyers would like it if he would adjust some of what he’s saying and doing,” she added. “But I don’t think for what he is saying himself — he sees political advantage in continuing to say that he might pardon people. He thinks that it rallies his supporters.”

Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other serious felonies in May for spearheading a plot to block the Jan. 6 certification of the 2020 election.

His 22-year sentence is the longest handed down in connection with the Jan. 6 riot.