In a controversial decision on his first day in office, President Donald Trump issued 1,500 pardons, including to Andrew and Matthew Valentin, two brothers from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, convicted in connection with the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack.
The move marked the first pardons granted to participants in the events that shook the Capitol nearly four years ago.
The Valentin brothers were released from Washington, DC’s Central Detention Facility late Monday, just days after being sentenced.
Andrew Valentin, 27, and Matthew Valentin, 32, were serving time for assaulting law enforcement officers during the riot.
- Matthew Valentin pleaded guilty to two felony counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers and faced a potential 8-year sentence but received 2.5 years.
- Andrew Valentin faced up to 28 years for assaulting officers with a deadly weapon, in addition to other charges. He, too, was sentenced to 2.5 years.
Neither brother entered the Capitol building but engaged in physical altercations with law enforcement, using chemical irritants, hurling a chair, and stealing police batons, according to court documents.
Statements from the Administration
Paul Ingrassia, White House liaison to the Department of Justice, called the pardons a “monumental moment in our history,” adding,
“This injustice is ending in America tonight.”
President Trump defended his decision, saying:
“They’ve been treated very unfair. The judges have been absolutely brutal. The prosecutors have been brutal.”
Trump’s Pardon Policy
Trump’s Day 1 pardons also included a sweeping “full, complete, and unconditional pardon” for all individuals convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot.
The Justice Department had charged 1,583 people in connection with the events, during which rioters attempted to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
Reflection and Controversy
The brothers expressed remorse for their actions:
- Andrew Valentin apologized in a letter, writing,
“My intentions were never to hurt anyone, and I cannot believe that I behaved in such a manner.”
- Matthew’s attorney noted that he was “haunted” by his behavior.
The pardon reignites debate about the events of January 6, which led to the deaths of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, who suffered a stroke the next day, and two other officers who died by suicide shortly after.
Broader Implications
The Valentin brothers’ release comes as Trump doubles down on his promise to free “our great hostages,” a reference to convicted January 6 rioters.
He has claimed that their treatment by the justice system has been “brutal” and “unprecedented.”
The pardons are expected to spark significant controversy, given the violence of the Capitol attack and its lasting impact on the nation.
