Pardons by Biden, Trump draw stark criticism in Illinois
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 [January 23, 2025]
By Catrina Barker | The Center Square contributor
(The Center Square) – Illinois U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin and Illinois
Attorney General Kwame Raoul are criticizing President Donald Trump for
pardoning Jan. 6 defendants.
Senate Judiciary Democrats, led by Durbin, D-Springfield, asked on
social media, “Does Pam Bondi condemn the pardons for insurrectionists
who attacked police officers?”
Bondi, Trump’s pick for attorney general, was asked about pardoning Jan.
6 defendants in a Senate confirmation hearing last week.
“I'm asking you, do you believe that those who have been convicted of
the Jan. 6 riot, violent assaults on our police officers, should be
pardoned? That's a simple question,” asked Durbin.
“So, Senator, I have not seen any of those files. If confirmed, and if
asked to advise the President, I will look at each and every file. But
let me be very clear in speaking to you. I condemn any violence on a law
enforcement officer in this country,” said Bondi.
Raoul said on social media, “...our nation went through a peaceful
transfer of power. I am disappointed that was followed by pardons and
commutations for people, several of whom have ties to well-known
hate-groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, who stood in the
way of that process four years ago.”
Tom Devore, a Republican who ran for attorney general and lost in 2022,
said Raoul hasn’t taken notice that “people of our country have grown
tired of the political gamesmanship of selective outrage.”
“The Attorney General sat in silence as President Biden pardoned his own
son. He sat in silence as President Biden pardoned all of his own family
members. And he even sat in silence when President Biden commuted the
sentence of [former Dixon, Illinois comptroller] Rita Crundwell who
stole millions from Illinois taxpayers,” said Devore.
On Feb. 14, 2013, Crundwell was sentenced to 19 years and seven months
in federal prison for embezzling more than $53 million from the city of
Dixon going back to 1990. Crundwell admits to using taxpayer money for
her personal horse-breeding business expenses.
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Among his final actions Monday before transitioning power to Trump,
Biden also preemptively pardoned members of the Jan. 6 Select
Committee including former Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger. The
Democrat led committee was investigating the 2021 riot.
Trump suggested a reporter focus on Biden’s pardons rather than his
Jan. 6 pardons. Tuesday, Trump was asked about Jan. 6 defendant
Daniel Rodriguez, who pleaded guilty to stun-gunning an officer.
“Why does he deserve a pardon?” asked a reporter at the White House.
“Murderers today are not even charged. You have murderers that
aren't charged all over. You take a look at what's gone on in
Philadelphia, take a look at what's gone off in LA, where people
murder people and they don't get charged. These people have already
served years in prison and they've served them viciously. It's a
disgusting prison. It's been horrible. It's inhumane,” said Trump.
“Joe Biden gave a pardon yesterday to a lot of criminals. These are
criminals that he gave a pardon to. You should be asking that
question. Why did he give a pardon to the J6 unselect committee when
they burned and destroyed all documents which showed that they did
what was wrong? Not me. Why did they give a pardon to all of his
relatives?”
DeVore echoed Trump’s comments saying Illinois Democrats like Raoul
are “selectively outraged” about the Jan. 6 defendants receiving
pardons.
"The Attorney General will have to excuse me when I give a big yawn
to his attempt to create rage bait in regard to the pardons issued
by President Trump,” DeVore said. “The people of Illinois see the
Attorney General's comments for what they are, which is childish
schoolyard politics.”
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