Democrats From Essex County Bash Trump's Jan. 6 Pardons

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Some Essex County residents are angry. Others are grateful. But nearly everyone has a strong opinion about Donald Trump’s presidential pardons for more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol – including dozens from New Jersey.

Trump also commuted the sentences of another 14 people, including leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. Read More: 46 Defendants From NJ Pardoned In Trump’s First Official Act

The people who received pardons include an Essex County woman who pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. "I never intended to cause any harm or violence," she told a judge during a court hearing, adding that she's had to homeschool her children because they were being bullied. Read More: NJ Mom Charged In Jan. 6 Capitol Riot Spared Prison

Trump's pardons have seen some serious blowback from some critics, including U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who represents New Jersey’s 11th congressional district (Essex, Morris, Passaic counties).

“These pardons undermine the rule of law and betray the brave law enforcement officers who risked their lives defending the Capitol on January 6,” Sherrill said.

The congresswoman specifically called out the pardon for New Jersey resident Julian Khater, who was sentenced to 80 months in prison for assaulting police officer Brian Sicknick.

According to prosecutors, Khater deployed pepper spray at a line of officers from less than eight feet away, hitting Sicknick and two other officers. Sicknick, a New Jersey native, had several strokes in the hours after the attack. He died of natural causes a day later, according to a coroner. Read More: NJ Man Gets 7 Years In Prison For Attacking Officer Brian Sicknick On Jan. 6

“It is even more disturbing that the president pardoned violent offenders — like Julian Khater, the individual who assaulted U.S. Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick, a New Jersey native, and pled guilty to assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon,” Sherrill said.

“My heart is with the Sicknick family and the Capitol police officers who put their lives on the line every day,” she added.

In the state Legislature, Sen. John McKeon – another Democratic lawmaker with Essex County ties – called the pardons “a disgraceful affront to our justice system and an insult to the American people.”

“This shocking move undermines accountability for one of the darkest and most dangerous moments in our nation’s history, when the peaceful transfer of power, one of the core tenets of our democracy, was under attack,” said McKeon, who represents the New Jersey’s 27th legislative district (Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland, West Orange, Clifton).

McKeon accused Trump of sending a “dangerous message” that political violence and attempts to overturn the will of the people are acceptable. He argued that it may be time to take a serious look at limiting the power of presidential pardons – something that has grown way beyond what the founders of the nation had in mind.

“The president may try to rewrite history, but the American people will not forget what happened or abandon the principles that make our democracy strong,” McKeon said.

• See Related: New Jersey GOP, Democrats Condemn Trump Assassination Attempt

On the flip side of the political aisle, some Republicans have supported the majority of the Jan. 6 pardons, including U.S. Reps. Jeff Van Drew (NJ-2) and Chris Smith (NJ-4).

Van Drew said he backs pardons for “nonviolent offenders,” while Smith said that Trump should pardon “many of them” – but not those guilty of “violence against a cop … real violence.”

At least one of their fellow Republicans disagrees, however.

State Sen. Jon Bramnick (NJ-21) – a candidate for New Jersey governor in 2025 – issued a statement denouncing the pardons on Wednesday.

“President Trump has taken many encouraging actions on infrastructure, energy, securing the border and making the federal government more efficient in the first days of his administration,” Bramnick said.

“However, I do not support his pardon of the violent participants who attacked police in the actions of January 6, 2021,” the senator added.

Bramnick continued:

“Those convicted of violent actions against cops include Ryan Nichols who pleaded guilty to assaulting officers, David Dempsey who beat officers with a metal crutch and wooden poles and Daniel Rodriguez who used a stun gun multiple times on a police officer should remain in jail. Republicans are proud to support law enforcement but if we are to remain consistent in that message, we cannot condone any violence against police – especially through presidential pardons. Other Republican candidates for governor should do the same.”

For those charged with crimes, the pardons were a ray of bright news, however – including Robert Coppotelli, a Toms River resident who pleaded guilty to being disorderly and disruptive in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Coppotelli, who was sentenced to probation and a $600 fine, has insisted he and others were invited inside the Capitol and that they were not there at the urging of Trump. He called Jan. 6 "one of the greatest travesties perpetrated on the American people."

According to Coppotelli, he lost hundreds of thousands of dollars of business and received death threats in the mail after being featured in news reports about the riots. “Every single Jan. 6er deserves full expungements across the board,” he argued.

• See Related: Jan. 6 Pardons Not Sufficient, New Jersey Man Says

BIDEN, MURPHY PARDONS

Before he left office, former president Joe Biden commuted the sentences of almost 2,500 people convicted of nonviolent drug offenses, using his final days in office on a flurry of clemency actions meant to ease prison terms he deemed too harsh.

• See Related: Biden Sets Record By Commuting 2,500 More Sentences

In addition to commuting death sentences for dozens of inmates, Biden also issued pardons to several people, including his son, Hunter, and Ravi Ragbir, an advocate for immigrant and faith communities in New York and New Jersey. Ragbir was previously convicted of a non-violent offense in 2001.

• See Related: Biden Pardons His Son Hunter Despite Previous Pledges Not To

In December, Gov. Phil Murphy announced that he was granting clemency to dozens of former prison inmates in New Jersey who have turned their lives around for the better. Recipients included U.S. military veterans, religious leaders and small business owners.

Some of the people who received clemency are victims of domestic or sexual violence or sex trafficking who were incarcerated for committing a crime against the perpetrator. Some got unfair sentences due to the War on Drugs or “excessive trial penalties” – and others were jailed for non-violent crimes.

• See Related: NJ Governor Pardons Dozens Of Ex-Inmates: ‘Redemption Is Achievable’

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