US President Donald Trump has issued "full, complete and unconditional" pardons or commutations to almost 1,600 people convicted or charged in connection with the 2021 US Capitol riots. Trump also signed an order directing the Department of Justice to drop all pending cases against suspects accused of involvement in the riot.

Republican senators struggled to defend Donald Trump’s decision to commute and pardon hundreds of January 6 protesters including those who were charged and convicted of crimes against police officers,

The US president’s power to pardon is both one of the most absolute and misunderstood provisions of the Constitution. Rooted in the “prerogative of mercy” of English kings dating back to the seventh century,