# He has to free the J6ers, right? **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [November 22, 2024, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613 "2024-11-22T15:11:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![Lightnin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lightnin/32/180_2.png) [@Lightnin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lightnin)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2024, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/101 "2024-12-02T23:51:40Z")
I imagine he’ll do it specifically _for_ the outrage. It’ll help distract from the other stuff he does. Remember the last time he was in office? It was a daily shitshow. He did so much crap that it was really hard to keep track of all the crap he did. Trump is the Firehose of Awfulness writ large. ---
**Author:** ![aurora\_maire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aurora_maire/32/328_2.png) [@aurora\_maire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aurora_maire)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/102 "2024-12-03T00:14:54Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > On the good side for him, is that it fits his primary narrative that the 2020 election was stolen, I fully expect that he is going to announce that his “landslide” win in 2024 is proof that the 2020 election was stolen. He’ll pardon the J6ers just as a House _Select_ Committee begins the investigation into the democrats and journalists who stole it from him. He desperately needs the narrative to be that he _did beat_ Biden, since he was deprived of that with this election. And in this fascist timeline with this cast of utterly unscrupulous characters, he may get his delusional vindication, even though it would mean nothing except bragging rights for him. And that is what counts. ---
**Author:** ![Ash\_trav511](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@Ash\_trav511](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ash_trav511)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/103 "2024-12-03T02:01:03Z")
> [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > So I think he will pardon them within days of taking office. I agree ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/104 "2024-12-03T02:21:34Z")
> [@DWMarch](#): > > > [@Buck\_Godot](#): > > > > As far as Trump is concerned there isn’t a lot of down side to letting them out. > > What is life like after getting a pardon? I would imagine the pardon does not make people whole in all the other ways that their lives have changed since getting thrown in jail. Do these folks get their jobs back? Do they get their “reputations” back (such as they were before J6)? Do they get custody of their kids back? > > The way I picture it, a pardoned person going to job interviews is going to get a whole lot of “don’t call us, we’ll call you” and I’m pretty sure Trump doesn’t care one bit about that. I wonder how a whole bunch of Americans will respond when they are essentially exiled from what their lives used to be. And I wonder what these folks will do when the only lesson they have been taught from all of this is that violence against the government is okay. Their criminal records will be expunged but you can’t expunge Google. I suspect being involved hurts them in some instances but probably helps them with others. We have a county commissioner who was at the rally. Apparently they didn’t participate in the attack but posted pictures from the rally. They keep getting reelected. ---
**Author:** ![HMS\_Irruncible](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hms_irruncible/32/7394_2.png) [@HMS\_Irruncible](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HMS_Irruncible)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 2:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/105 "2024-12-03T02:32:36Z")
> [@Cervaise](#): > > Personally I think he does do it because it’s a great way to give the finger to his enemies and signal their opposition to his antics will be useless. He doesn’t give a molecule of shit about the J6 people themselves but he’ll enjoy throwing them in the face of those who would stand against him. I think this is the correct answer. Yes, it’s true that Trump is heavily driven by the question “what’s in it for me”, but history suggests that “you get to troll the libs” is usually a perfectly good answer to that question. Freeing the J6 prisoners would troll not only the libs but never-Trumpers like Liz Cheney, who I suspect he hates even more than the libs. I suspect that at least part of the time this sentiment originates from someone other than Trump, but I’m sure it’s presented to Trump as demonstrating that he’s the big capo, showing everyone who’s in charge, getting retribution on his enemies, etc. No grand plan needed, just figure out whatever seems to stroke his ego that day. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 3:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/106 "2024-12-03T03:30:37Z")
Query- why didnt trump pardon them all on January 19, 2021? ---
**Author:** ![DWMarch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dwmarch/32/1010_2.png) [@DWMarch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DWMarch)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/107 "2024-12-03T05:27:50Z")
Several reasons, I’d assume: - Most of them probably had not been charged by that point. - Blanket pardoning **x** number of people for **y** unspecified crimes is probably an order of magnitude more difficult than a regular pardon hence Trump couldn’t be bothered. - Trump was not giving out pardons during his first administration, he was _selling_ them. - Trump doesn’t think they did anything wrong. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/108 "2024-12-03T05:44:47Z")
I’m not sure _any_ were charged by then. If any were then it was very few. The vast majority were arrested months and in some cases years after. He didn’t pardon them before he left office because 1) there was no one to pardon yet and 2) he was still pouting about losing. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/109 "2024-12-03T07:43:53Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Their criminal records will be expunged but you can’t expunge Google. No, it doesn’t. They are still on record as convicted criminals. Here is the actual Office of the Pardon Attorney: > **[Frequently Asked Questions](https://www.justice.gov/pardon/frequently-asked-questions)** > **Does a presidential pardon expunge or erase the conviction for which the pardon was granted?** > > No. Expungement is a judicial remedy that is rarely granted by the court and cannot be granted within the Department of Justice or by the President. Please also be aware that if you were to be granted a presidential pardon, the pardoned offense would not be removed from your criminal record. Instead, both the federal conviction as well as the pardon would both appear on your record. However, a pardon will facilitate removal of legal disabilities imposed because of the conviction, and should lessen to some extent the stigma arising from the conviction. In addition, a pardon may be helpful in obtaining licenses, bonding, or employment. If you are seeking expungement of a federal offense, please contact the court of conviction. If you are seeking expungement of a state conviction, which the Office of the Pardon Attorney also does not have authority to handle, states have different procedures for “expunging” a conviction or “clearing” the record of a criminal conviction. To pursue relief of a state conviction, you should contact the Governor or state Attorney General in the state in which you were convicted for assistance. ---
**Author:** ![enipla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/54ee81/32.png) [@enipla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/enipla)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/110 "2024-12-03T12:27:48Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > No, it doesn’t. They are still on record as convicted criminals. That’s what I thought. So still convicted criminals. If anyone does background checks, may be hard to get a job. I sure as shit wouldn’t hire anyone stupid enough to participate in J6. Let them rot under bridges. ---
**Author:** ![Crane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crane/32/3495_2.png) [@Crane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crane)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 12:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/111 "2024-12-03T12:36:23Z")
> [@enipla](#): > > I sure as shit wouldn’t hire anyone stupid enough to participate in J6. In their home territory it’s a badge of honor. Trump could sell official “Jan6 - I got pardoned” badges. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/112 "2024-12-03T18:47:34Z")
In one of his recent Truth Social posts, he referred to those convicted for J6 crimes as “Hostages”. It’s a safe bet that pardons are coming. ---
**Author:** ![abcdefghij](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/43a26b/32.png) [@abcdefghij](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/abcdefghij)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2024, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/113 "2024-12-03T20:14:56Z")
[never mind. Just realized this is P&E] ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/114 "2024-12-05T18:15:05Z")
Jimmy Carter pardoned nearly everyone who evaded the Vietnam draft the day after he was inaugurated , whether they were charged or not. It was a blanket pardon No reason Trump couldn’t have issued a similar blanket pardon - but he didn’t. No doubt because he didn’t believe it would benefit him and it’s hard to see how that has changed where it would benefit him now but wouldn’t have then. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/115 "2024-12-05T19:30:19Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > No doubt because he didn’t believe it would benefit him and it’s hard to see how that has changed where it would benefit him now but wouldn’t have then. Think of it the other way around: pardoning them in 2021 could have hurt his chances of winning in 2024; in 2025, uh, less so. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 7:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/116 "2024-12-05T19:38:45Z")
Even if he didn’t do it in 2021 because he thought it would hurt him in 2024, there’s no way for it to actually help him now - and I’m not at all sure “wouldn’t hurt him” is enough reason for him to lift a finger ( or that he doesn’t actually believe he can somehow get a third term) . ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/117 "2024-12-05T21:26:00Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Even if he didn’t do it in 2021 because he thought it would hurt him in 2024, there’s no way for it to actually help him now I think there is; I think it could let him showily demonstrate — in the headline-grabbing-est possible way — that, as long as they sing his praises, he’s the kind of guy who’ll hand out pardons to people who beg him to do so after they do stuff they think would please him. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/118 "2024-12-05T21:42:04Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Jimmy Carter pardoned nearly everyone who evaded the Vietnam draft the day after he was inaugurated , whether they were charged or not. It was a blanket pardon No reason Trump couldn’t have issued a similar blanket pardon - but he didn’t. No doubt because he didn’t believe it would benefit him and it’s hard to see how that has changed where it would benefit him now but wouldn’t have then. Something that had been stewing for several years at that point. Not a couple of weeks. Trump at the time was pretending nothing bad had happened. He was being impeached with a chance of being barred from future office. If he issued a blanket pardon he would be admitting that there were crimes. Trump’s motivations are so clear to me that I find it weird others don’t see it. Thinking he is only motivated by what benefits him gives him too much credit. It’s all about ego and adulation. He’s still calling them January 6th hostages. I will be shocked if he waits until January 21st. It’s probably written and waiting for him right now. ---
**Author:** ![SunUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ea5d25/32.png) [@SunUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SunUp)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 11:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/119 "2024-12-05T23:26:52Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > I think there is; I think it could let him showily demonstrate — in the headline-grabbing-est possible way — that, as long as they sing his praises, he’s the kind of guy who’ll hand out pardons to people who beg him to do so after they do stuff they think would please him. In particular, it shows he will protect people who will attack the seat of a coequal branch of the government on his behalf. If that’s not a recipe for tyranny, I don’t know what is. ---
**Author:** ![Ash\_trav511](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/edb3f5/32.png) [@Ash\_trav511](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ash_trav511)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2024, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613/120 "2024-12-05T23:49:42Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > He’s still calling them January 6th hostages. I will be shocked if he waits until January 21st. It’s probably written and waiting for him right now. I agree. No chance that he will not pardon…not one in hundred. And it may very well be a blanket pardon for all j6ers. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/he-has-to-free-the-j6ers-right/1010613.md?page=7)