Trump pardons about 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants

Washington — President Trump on Monday granted clemency to roughly 1,500 defendants who had been convicted of crimes on Jan. 6, 2021, following through on his longtime promise to absolve those who participated in the attack on the U.S. Capitol of wrongdoing.

The president's action comes on his first day back in the White House and just hours after he was sworn in for a second term. Mr. Trump has repeatedly sought to downplay the events of Jan. 6, when a mob of his supporters breached the Capitol in an effort to stop Congress from reaffirming former President Biden's victory over him in 2020. And the pardons further his efforts to recast the assault as a "day of love" and Jan. 6 defendants as "political prisoners" and "hostages."

"These are the hostages, approximately 1,500 for a pardon, full pardon," Mr. Trump said during remarks from the Oval Office. "This is a big one."