Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, expressed confidence that President-elect Donald Trump will exercise his pardon authority “legitimately,” particularly for peaceful protesters from the January 6, 2021, Capitol events. Speaking on Newsmax’s The Record With Greta Van Susteren on Monday, Cruz differentiated between peaceful demonstrators and those who committed violence, emphasizing accountability for criminal actions.
Cruz criticized President Joe Biden’s recent controversial pardon of his son, Hunter Biden, calling it “infuriating and utterly predictable.” He contrasted Biden’s actions with Trump’s expected approach to pardons.
Cruz maintained that individuals who committed violence, especially those who assaulted law enforcement, should face legal consequences. “Nobody is entitled to violently assault a police officer,” Cruz stated, clarifying that such actions warrant prosecution and sentencing. However, he argued that the Biden administration unfairly used the actions of a few violent individuals to justify prosecuting peaceful protesters.
Cruz said, “I fully expect that President Trump is going to pardon those who engaged in peaceful protests, those who were persecuted by the Biden DOJ and did not commit acts of violence.”
Cruz also pointed to what he called “corruption” within the Biden Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing it of targeting pro-life activists and others with differing political views. He underscored the importance of using pardon powers to address what he sees as politically motivated prosecutions.
Trump, Cruz predicted, would act to correct these perceived injustices, including offering pardons to pro-life demonstrators who have faced prosecution for non-violent actions.
Cruz’s comments reflect growing Republican concerns about unequal treatment in the justice system, particularly under the Biden administration. The January 6 prosecutions have been a contentious issue, with GOP leaders asserting that many peaceful demonstrators were unfairly lumped together with those committing violent offenses.
As Trump prepares to take office, his potential use of pardons to address these grievances is expected to remain a significant focal point of his administration’s early actions.
