Trump Grants Clemency to Nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 Defendants, Crypto Executive, and George Santos in 2025
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a sweeping and controversial move, President Donald Trump granted clemency to nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, as well as to other notable figures including cryptocurrency executive Changpeng Zhao and former Representative George Santos. The clemency actions, announced throughout 2025, have brought a dramatic close to one of the most resource-intensive federal prosecutions efforts in recent memory.
On the very day he assumed office, Trump issued mass clemency to almost all his supporters convicted of federal offenses related to the Capitol riot, which saw violent breaches of the U.S. Capitol building. According to data from the Department of Justice, roughly 1,600 people faced charges, with over 1,200 pleading guilty or being convicted. Among them, approximately 200 pleaded guilty to felonies including assaulting law enforcement officers, and more than 200 others were convicted in trials for offenses that included attacking officers.
Trump characterized these defendants as having been “treated very unfair” by prosecutors and the courts. Notably, he commuted the sentences of 14 defendants who had received lengthy prison terms, including leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, groups that played prominent roles in the events of January 6. Rather than issuing pardons, the president chose to commute these sentences, effectively shortening or ending their incarceration.
In addition to individual clemencies, Trump directed the Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against the remaining defendants. This directive effectively wiped out the Biden administration’s four-year-long effort to prosecute those involved in the Capitol attack, a campaign that had been one of the DOJ’s largest and most resource-intensive law enforcement operations. The prosecutions had spanned the entirety of the Biden presidency, highlighting the administration’s commitment to accountability.
Beyond the Jan. 6 defendants, Trump’s clemency list included Changpeng Zhao, founder and former CEO of Binance, the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange. Zhao was convicted of anti-money laundering violations and received a full pardon in October 2025. The pardon followed a high-profile introduction between Zhao’s lobbyist and Trump, facilitated by Donald Trump Jr. at a memorial event. Critics have pointed to Binance’s support of the Trump family’s cryptocurrency ventures, though Zhao’s legal representatives maintain that the pardon was granted purely on grounds of justice. More details on cryptocurrency regulations and enforcement can be found at the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network.
Another prominent figure granted clemency was former U.S. Representative George Santos, who had been sentenced to seven years in prison after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to his conduct during his congressional campaign. His sentence was commuted in October 2025, sparking debate about political accountability and the use of presidential pardon powers.
Presidential clemency has historically been a tool used by both parties to rectify perceived injustices or to extend mercy, but Trump’s 2025 actions stand out for their scale and the deal-making style that has characterized his approach to wielding executive power. The White House Office of the Pardon Attorney provides official records and guidelines on the use of clemency powers.
Legal experts and political analysts have expressed deep divisions over the implications of these pardons. Supporters argue that many of those convicted were unfairly targeted and that the clemency restores balance to a politicized justice system. Critics contend that the pardons undermine the rule of law and send a troubling message about accountability for actions that threatened democratic institutions.
As the nation moves into 2026, the reverberations of these clemency decisions will continue to be felt in political, legal, and social spheres. The Department of Justice has yet to outline how it will proceed with law enforcement priorities in the aftermath of the mass pardons, but the scale of the clemency marks a significant turning point in the federal government’s handling of the January 6 prosecutions and related high-profile cases.
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