WASHINGTON — Vice President-elect JD Vance stated unequivocally that individuals responsible for the violence during the Capitol riot “obviously” should not be pardoned. This assertion comes as President-elect Donald Trump has expressed intentions to use his clemency powers on behalf of many involved in the events of January 6, 2021, which aimed to challenge the election results that he lost.

In a recent interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Vance maintained that the discussion around pardoning individuals should be straightforward. He emphasized that those who protested peacefully should be pardoned, but clarified that “if you committed violence on that day, obviously you shouldn’t be pardoned.” He acknowledged that there could be a “bit of a gray area” concerning some cases.

The aftermath of the riot resulted in over 1,500 individuals charged with federal crimes, notably injuring more than 100 police officers and forcing lawmakers into safety during the certification of Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. While many faced misdemeanor charges for illegally entering the Capitol, others confronted felony charges, including assault against law enforcement. Noteworthy leaders from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, extremist groups, were convicted of seditious conspiracy, accused of plotting violence to disrupt the transfer of power from Trump to Biden.

In a clarification posted on X, Vance responded to dissent from supporters of the Capitol rioters who claimed his stance did not sufficiently advocate for their release. “I’ve been defending these guys for years,” he stated, reinforcing that the discussions on whether to pardon individuals would be case-by-case considerations.

Moreover, Trump suggested he would expedite pardons on his first day in office, stating, “Most likely, I’ll do it very quickly,” adding that “those people have suffered long and hard.”

Vance concluded by reiterating, “The president saying he’ll look at each case (and me saying the same) is not some walkback. I assure you, we care about people unjustly locked up. Yes, that includes people provoked and it includes people who got a garbage trial.” For more information, refer to VOA News and Time.