• JD Vance states that only peaceful protesters from January 6 should be pardoned.
• He draws a clear distinction between peaceful protests and violent actions taken during the Capitol riot.
• The Vice President-elect emphasizes the need for fairness in legal proceedings against those charged.
• Trump plans to pardon participants of the Capitol riot, with discussions on exceptions for violent offenders.
• As of now, nearly 1,500 individuals have been charged in connection with the January 6 attack.

In a recent interview on "Fox News Sunday," Vice President-elect JD Vance stated that individuals who "committed violence" during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot "obviously" should not receive pardons from President-elect Donald Trump. Vance articulated a clear position: "If you protested peacefully on January the 6th, and you've had Merrick Garland's Department of Justice treat you like a gang member, you should be pardoned. If you committed violence on that day, obviously, you shouldn't be pardoned," (source: USA Today). Vance acknowledged the complexity of the situations faced by those prosecuted, mentioning "a little bit of a gray area there," without specifying what that might encompass. He emphasized the need for equal justice, voicing concern that many individuals faced wrongful prosecution in the aftermath of the riots. He remarked, "We need to rectify that," aligning his stance with Trump's campaign promise to provide clemency to certain individuals involved in the Capitol's breach (source: The Hill). As discussions continue regarding potential pardons, Trump has indicated that he aims to act quickly, but has also mentioned possible exceptions for those engaging in extreme behavior. Notably, since the riot, nearly 1,500 people have faced charges related to the event, with about 900 having pled guilty to federal offenses (source: USA Today).