House Speaker Mike Johnson has publicly defended President Donald Trump’s decision to pardon roughly 1,500 individuals convicted in connection with the January 6th Capitol riots. In a statement, Johnson emphasized the president’s constitutional authority to grant pardons, framing the move as a legitimate exercise of executive power. “The president has the pardon and commutation authority. It’s his decision,” Johnson stated, adding that he believes in the importance of second chances. Johnson also criticized what he described as the “weaponization of the Justice Department,” echoing President Trump’s long-standing claims of bias within the federal government. The pardons, signed by President Trump in the Oval Office, also included six commutations. Trump has frequently referred to the January 6th defendants as “hostages” of a politically motivated system. This marks one of the first major executive actions of Trump’s new term in office, underscoring his commitment to revisiting high-profile legal cases tied to his presidency. While Johnson’s remarks solidify Republican support for the president’s actions, they are likely to draw criticism from those who view the pardons as undermining accountability for the Capitol riots. The clemency orders, however, signal a clear direction for Trump’s administration as it revisits cases he believes represent broader systemic issues.