Vice President-elect JD Vance has stated that those who engaged in violence during the January 6 Capitol riot should not be pardoned. In an interview with Fox News on January 12, Vance clarified his stance on the potential pardoning of individuals involved in the storming of the Capitol by radical supporters of then-President Donald Trump. Vance asserted that individuals who peacefully protested on that day and were unjustly treated by the Justice Department under Attorney General Merrick Garland should be pardoned. However, he emphasized that those who committed violent acts should not receive a pardon. Vance acknowledged a “grey area” between the violent and non-violent protesters but reiterated his commitment to equal enforcement of the law, expressing concern over what he perceived as wrongful prosecutions following the events of January 6.
Vance’s comments on pardoning those involved in the January 6 riot starkly contrast with those made by Donald Trump. In a recent interview with Time magazine, Trump was asked about pardoning all defendants involved in the Capitol breach, to which he initially responded, “Yes,” before backtracking and stating that pardons would be issued on a case-by-case basis. When asked if violent offenders would be included in such pardons, Trump avoided giving a clear answer, instead stating that he would “look at each case” and make decisions “very quickly.”
In addition to his remarks on the January 6 incident, Vance commented on Greenland, which has been a point of interest for President-elect Trump. Vance highlighted the potential for the U.S. to show leadership in protecting national security and developing Greenland’s natural resources. Referring to Trump’s son, Donald Trump Jr., Vance noted that during a recent visit to Greenland, local officials expressed interest in granting development rights for their natural resources. Vance emphasized the need to ensure that Greenland is managed with American security interests in mind. While he acknowledged Trump’s earlier statement that he would not rule out the use of force to secure control of Greenland, Vance clarified that this did not imply an intention to annex the territory militarily. He also noted that there is no current need for military action in Greenland, given that the U.S. military is already stationed there.