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Sunday, November 15, 2026Nov 15

Times Opinion: Trump compounds his original sin of pardoning protesters

Photo by Alex Edelman via AFP/Getty Images/TNS / Supporters of US President Donald Trump clash with the US Capitol police during a riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.
Photo by Alex Edelman via AFP/Getty Images/TNS / Supporters of US President Donald Trump clash with the US Capitol police during a riot at the US Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington, DC.

It was bad enough when President Donald Trump, just hours after his second inauguration, pardoned hundreds of his supporters convicted for their roles in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

Even worse, his administration now plans to reward them by using a newly created fund for — in Trump’s words — “reimbursing people who were horribly treated,” a totally misleading description of cases properly handled.

In other words, members of the mob that sought to keep Congress from implementing the Constitution’s electoral process not only got off but now may get paid off.

And Trump, his family and his businesses won’t ever face any government tax audits, investigations or penalties.

The Founding Fathers would be appalled. And so should every American.