Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) on Tuesday criticized President Trump’s decision to pardon or commute the sentences of people who were convicted of assaulting police officers during the assault on the Capitol on 6 January 2021.
“I don’t think the approach of a blanket pardon that includes those who caused harm, physical harm to our police officers, to others, that resulted in violence, I’m disappointed to see that. And I fear the message that is sent to these great men and women who supported us,” Murkowski told reporters as she entered a Republican meeting outside the Senate chamber.
Cassidy offered his own strong statement of disapproval about pardoning people who assaulted police officers four years ago in an effort to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election. “It’s not right. People who assault police officers, if they commit the crime, should serve time,” Cassidy said.
Cassidy described himself as a “great supporter of the law,” referring to his history of supporting law enforcement. “Whether you are in Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Monroe, Lafayette, Alexandria, Lake Charles or Washington, D.C., it is wrong to assault someone,” he said, referring to several communities in his home state.
Both Murkowski and Cassidy voted to convict Trump on the charge of incitement of insurrection during his Senate impeachment trial in 2021.
