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Five years after the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot, President Trump has successfully transformed the event from a potential political liability into a rallying point, pardoning over 1,000 people connected to the incident while commuting 14 sentences. Trump characterizes the rioters as victims of overzealous prosecution stemming from what he calls the “rigged” 2020 election. His Republican allies have launched an inquiry focusing on security failures rather than Trump’s role in the event.
The riot occurred after Trump’s November 2020 loss to Joe Biden, during which he spent weeks alleging fraud and urging states to reexamine results. On January 6, 2021, Trump gave a speech on the White House Ellipse where he vowed to “never concede” and urged Vice President Mike Pence to block election certification, though he also told supporters to proceed “peacefully and patriotically.” Rioters subsequently clashed with police, breached the Capitol, and forced lawmakers into secure locations. Capitol Police officer shot Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, during the chaos. Trump’s Justice Department later approved a nearly $5 million settlement in her wrongful death lawsuit.
Special counsel Jack Smith, in closed-door testimony, stated the riot “does not happen” without Trump and characterized him as the “most culpable and most responsible person” for attempting to overturn the 2020 election results. However, Trump had the Justice Department dismiss Smith’s indictment upon returning to office.
Trump’s political fortunes dramatically reversed from his 2021 low point, when his Gallup favorability hit 34%. He transformed his indictments into rallying cries and capitalized on dissatisfaction with President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to win a second term. While Democrats emphasized threats to democracy, Trump focused on economic concerns and inflation, which resonated with voters. He was inaugurated January 20, 2025, inside the building his supporters had stormed.
Democrats plan to reconvene Tuesday for a hearing on “ongoing threats to free and fair elections” and crimes committed by pardoned January 6 offenders. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries commemorated officers’ bravery, noting Brian Sicknick died of a stroke after being assaulted during the riot, while four other officers died by suicide within months.
Rep. Barry Loudermilk leads a Republican panel investigating security failures, seeking information from federal agencies and private companies. Historians suggest Trump’s reelection success means Republican efforts primarily serve as political maneuvering, though the extensive court records and footage make significantly rewriting history unlikely.
Read more: Five years on, the ’culture has changed’ around the Jan. 6 Capitol attack
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The Washington Times AI Ethics Newsroom Committee can be reached at aispotlight@washingtontimes.com.
