WASHINGTON — As the fourth anniversary of the January 6 attack on the Capitol approaches, lawmakers are bracing for the possibility that President-elect Donald Trump may soon fulfill his promise to pardon many of the more than 1,500 individuals charged with crimes connected to the riot. Trump has stated he plans to issue pardons on “Day 1” of his presidency, which commences on January 20, suggesting that he would act swiftly. “Most likely, I’ll do it very quickly,” he told NBC's “Meet the Press”, adding that “those people have suffered long and hard,” mentioning that he might consider exceptions but is mostly inclined to grant pardons.

This commitment from Trump looms large as lawmakers gather to certify an election, reminiscent of the breach that halted the certification in 2021 after his supporters overran the Capitol.

Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a vocal advocate for pardons, is lobbying Trump to pardon everyone involved in the siege. While Greene’s stance is not widely echoed among her Republican colleagues, many believe it is reasonable for Trump to consider pardons individually. Greene stated, “Here we are nearly four years later. Many of these people have been in prison since 2021. Even the ones that fought Capitol Police, caused damage to the Capitol, I think they’ve served their time and I think they should all be pardoned and released from prison,” calling it a “two-tiered justice system.”

As of now, more than 1,250 individuals have pleaded guilty or been convicted related to the January 6 insurrection, with over 650 having received prison sentences ranging from a few days to as long as 22 years. Many rioters echoed Trump’s false claims regarding election fraud, and their actions that day led to significant injuries among law enforcement—approximately 140 officers sustained injuries, marking it as “likely the largest single-day mass assault of law enforcement” in American history, according to Matthew Graves, the outgoing U.S. attorney for the capital.

Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who retired due to injuries sustained while defending the Capitol, criticized the potential pardons, stating, “You cannot be pro-police officer and rule of law if you are pardoning people who betrayed that trust, injured police officers and ransacked the Capitol.”

Some Republican lawmakers, even those close to Trump, caution against blanket pardons. Representative Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, indicated support for pardons but emphasized that it should be restricted to individuals who did not commit violence. He stated, “For people who didn’t commit any violence, I think everyone supports that. I think that makes sense.”

Similarly, Representative Gus Bilirakis (R-Fla.) expressed the necessity of evaluating each case individually, particularly those involving violence against law enforcement.

On the Democratic side, lawmakers who led the impeachment efforts against Trump over the January 6 events are concerned about the implications of pardons on the rule of law and national security. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) articulated the concerns of many when he expressed that pardoning individuals who attacked officers would be an affront to those who served. “Anyone who loves peace and security would be offended that you would pardon people who attacked those individuals for doing their jobs,” he stated.

Echoing these sentiments, Representative Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) called for any pardoned individuals to demonstrate contrition and a guarantee that they pose no future threats to public safety. He warned that any actions taken by those pardoned will ultimately reflect on Trump, who would be seen as facilitating these individuals’ return to the political arena.

The lingering discussions about the possibility of these pardons ignited memories of the chaos that unfolded that day, affecting not just the police but also the lawmakers who narrowly escaped harm. Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.), who recalled being trapped as rioters attempted to breach the chamber, remarked on the emotional toll, saying, “I’m pretty controlled and pretty disciplined, but that would be really hard. Too many of us had very personal experiences with the people who are serving time or were convicted.”

For ongoing updates on this situation, visit Time, Los Angeles Times, and AP News.