Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) said Americans should not be equating the pardons issued by President Trump and former President Biden.
Sanders joined CNN’s “The Source” on Tuesday evening, where he was asked about the flurry of executive action from Trump, including pardons for Jan. 6 rioters, and how some are comparing it to the pardons seen from Biden before he left office.
Host Kaitlan Collins asked what he thought on the matter, particularly since Biden pardoned his family members.
“What I think is that he was worried that, given all of Trump’s rhetoric, that [Biden] was going to go after his family and close associates,” Sanders said. “All right, that’s a concern, but don’t equate the two.”
Sanders said he doesn’t know anyone in Trump’s family that attempted to overthrow the U.S. government.
“What Trump is saying to the world is that it is okay for you to attack police officers when you have a mind to do that,” he said. “And I think that is an outrageous message to send to the world.”
Sanders admitted that the argument could be made about whether it was the right or wrong thing for Biden to preemptively pardon his family members but said still, “It has nothing to do with what Trump did today.”
Biden’s move to pardon family was an unprecedented use of power on his last day in office. He was concerned that in his second administration, Trump would follow through on his threats of retribution. The issue divided Democrats, with some agreeing with the pardon and some disagreeing with the action.
Once Trump took office, he moved swiftly to pardon nearly all rioters who stormed the Capitol four years ago.
Both presidents’ pardons sparked scrutiny.
Sanders said Tuesday that it “says a lot” that Trump would pardon them, particularly as a supporter of law enforcement.
“To tell the entire world that we’re going to pardon people who attacked and hurt police officers is telling,” Sanders said. “I think that is a horrible message and I strongly disagree with his pardoning of those insurrectionists.”
