ST. PAUL, Minn. — Following hours of debate last Thursday, and a continued debate today, Senator Judy Seeberger (DFL – Afton) voted “Yes” on Senate Resolution 15, expressing the Minnesota Senate’s condemnation of President Trump’s pardon of criminal participants of the January 6th insurrection who had been found guilty of violent crimes.
The January 6th insurrection injured more than 140 police officers, in what U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves for the District of Columbia called “the largest single-day, mass assault of law enforcement officers in our nation’s history.” Shortly after being sworn in for his second term, President Trump granted “a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses” related to the attack on our democracy on January 6, 2021.
“The pardoning of these convicted violent criminals was a slap in the face to law enforcement across our country,” said Senator Seeberger. “These people had been found guilty of violent acts in an attempt to overthrow the results of a democratic election. This was not ‘patriotism,’ as the President has claimed. This was treason. By pardoning these people, Donald Trump sent a chilling message to his supporters: As long as you commit violence on my behalf, I’ve got your back. He has no respect for the hardworking folks in law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day. I was proud to co-author this resolution, and it was an easy “Yes” vote for me and my colleagues. These pardons are an alarming attack on our judicial system, and the President is well-worthy of our condemnation.”
The resolution passed the Senate on a vote of 34 – 22, with all 34 DFL members voting in favor, and 10 Republican members not voting. Following today’s passage, a copy of Senate Resolution 15 will be transmitted to President Trump, the US House of Representatives, the US Senate, and Governor Walz.
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Learn more about Sen. Seeberger.
