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Senate committee condemns presidential pardons for Jan. 6 convictions, refers resolution
Summary
The Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee voted 7-1 with two abstentions to recommend Senate Resolution 15, which condemns presidential pardons issued to people convicted for crimes committed during the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee will re‑refer the resolution to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration.
Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee members voted to recommend Senate Resolution 15, a measure condemning the pardons granted by President Trump to people convicted for crimes arising from the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Senator Lats, sponsor of the resolution, moved that the measure be recommended to pass and re-referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration; the committee recorded a roll-call vote and sent the resolution forward by a 7-1-2 tally.
The resolution’s sponsor, Senator Lats, opened the item by showing a video of the Jan. 6 violence and told the committee the footage demonstrates how close the attack came to disrupting the peaceful transfer of power. "This president rewarded violent criminal attacks on our capital and on law enforcement. I'm asking you today to say we will not accept that," Lats said.
Supporters described the pardons as a threat to public safety and to respect for judicial determinations. "For the families of officers who made the ultimate sacrifice, the pardons are a very harsh slap in the face," said Senator Clark, citing remarks from Minneapolis Police Chief Brian O'Hara. Senator Carlson said juries and plea processes produced convictions and pardoning them "gives permission to insurrectionists," and urged the committee to move the resolution as far as possible.
Opponents characterized the resolution as untimely or partisan and said the committee’s time might be better spent on budget and policy matters. Senator Lambert said she had received no calls from constituents about the pardons and called the resolution "a distraction." Senator Westrom and others asked whether the language in lines 2.13–2.14 would allow the Senate to disregard federal judicial decisions; Senator Lats replied the resolution challenges the exercise of pardon power in these cases while acknowledging the Constitution grants presidential pardon power.
The committee’s clerk recorded the roll-call vote. Recorded votes named in the transcript include: Chair Lutz (yes); Senator Umu Verbaten (yes); Senator Limmer (pass/abstain); Senator Anderson (pass/abstain); Senator Carlson (yes); Senator Clark (yes); Senator Pappas (yes); Senator Seaburger (yes); Senator Westland (yes); Senator Westrom (no); Senator Howe (absent); Senator Croon (absent). The clerk announced "7 in favor, 1 against and 2 abstentions." The chair confirmed that Senate Resolution 15 will move to the committee on Rules and Administration.
The resolution text, as described in committee discussion, condemns the pardoning of people convicted of crimes arising from the Jan. 6 riot, notes injuries to law enforcement and deaths tied to the events, and states concern that the pardons "undermine the constitution" by overruling or nullifying judicial outcomes. The sponsor repeatedly said the resolution is limited to condemning the pardons of those convicted for Jan. 6 violence and is not a broader critique of the pardon power itself.
The committee did not take additional procedural action beyond referring the resolution to Rules and recording the vote.
