Nevada committee hears testimony condemning Jan. 6 pardons; former Capitol Police officer urges accountability

The Nevada Assembly Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections heard testimony on Assembly Joint Resolution 14 on a measure that condemns the Jan. 6, 2021 violence at the U.S. Capitol and denounces the blanket presidential pardons and commutations issued on Jan. 20, 2025.

The resolution’s sponsor, Assemblymember Steve Yeager, said the pardons undercut accountability for people prosecuted and convicted for crimes committed at the Capitol and singled out law enforcement harms. "That brings us to the pardons and commutations of roughly 1,500 insurrectionists issued by President Trump on 01/20/2025," Yeager said during his presentation. He noted that the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the Fraternal Order of Police jointly condemned the pardons.

The measure matters, supporters told the committee, because they said a public condemnation by Nevada lawmakers would register concern about political violence and the effect of broad pardons on the rule of law. "It was reckless the way he went about it, issuing blanket pardons to every single person there," Yeager said. Former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who testified in person, described the day as an attack on officers and the institution: "Police officers were attacked. Police officers took their own lives in the aftermath of it. Families were ruined," Dunn said, adding that many officers still live with moral and physical injuries from the event.

Labor and civic groups provided organized support during the public-comment portion. Susie Martinez of the Nevada State AFL-CIO said the events affected many families and communities: "It didn't just affect his family, it affected all of us." Other organizations that voiced support included the Northern Nevada Central Labor Council, Silver State Voices, One API Nevada and Mi Familia y Acción.

Opponents argued the resolution is partisan and risks deepening division. Joshua Skaggs, legislative affairs director for the Nevada Republican Party, said AJR 14 "further polarizes our communities and puts the patriots who support President Trump in physical danger by presenting a one-sided demonizing narrative of the events of 01/06/2021." Several callers compared the Capitol events to later civic unrest tied to other movements and urged parity in official responses.

Committee members asked questions and offered remarks recognizing the risks to officers and stressing the nonpartisan harms of political violence. Majority Leader Hetegui and other members thanked Dunn for his testimony. Chair Mosca opened the hearing for public testimony (20 minutes support, 20 minutes opposition, 20 minutes neutral) and reminded speakers to limit comments to the resolution.

No final committee vote or formal action on AJR 14 was recorded during the hearing. The committee left the record open for written testimony for 24 hours following the meeting; Chair Mosca closed the hearing on AJR 14 at the end of the public-comment period.

The hearing transcript records repeated references to law enforcement organizations and public commenters on both sides of the measure. The committee did not adopt or reject AJR 14 during the session recorded in the transcript.