Trump Pardons Pro-Life Activists and January 6 Defendants. In a sweeping executive action, Donald Trump granted clemency to over 1,500 people, including pro-life activists convicted under the FACE Act and individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
The pardons, issued just before the 52nd March for Life, fulfill Trump’s campaign vow to free those he sees as political prisoners.
The activists had been jailed for protests outside abortion clinics, prompting praise from conservatives and backlash from reproductive rights groups.
Trump’s action coincides with GOP efforts to repeal the FACE Act, with lawmakers arguing it’s been used to silence pro-life voices.
Supporters say the move defends First Amendment rights; critics warn it undermines legal accountability. The decision cements Trump’s alignment with his base and continues his challenge to Biden-era prosecutions.