Guerrero-Cuellar Condemns Trump for Pardoning Convicted Criminals, Dishonoring Fallen Officers’ Oath of Service

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – State Rep. Angie Guerrero-Cuellar, D-Chicago, condemned President Donald Trump’s pardon of the Jan. 6 insurrectionists yesterday. Rather than focusing on the cost of living challenges families face across the country, Trump used his first day in office to free more than 1,000 criminals who attacked law enforcement officers and tried to stop the peaceful transfer of power on one of the darkest days in American history.

“As the wife of a police officer, who comes to Springfield everyday to support our first responders, I am appalled that President Trump would pardon people who attacked, injured and killed brave police officers. What message are we sending to the families of these officers that their attackers can just walk free? While the President disrespected law enforcement with this unthinkable action, I am proud to support our first responders.”

Guerrero-Cuellar’s House Resolution 118 lays out in clear language the violence, destruction and lethality of Trump’s  insurrection, reminding House members and Illinoisans that this was the focus on President Trump’s Day One policies instead of the soaring cost of groceries, gas, housing, utilities and the basic goods and services taxpayers need that he promised to address.

On Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists attacked the Capitol after being encouraged by President Trump’s inflammatory rhetoric. Many attempted and succeeded in entering the building, climbing over fencing and injuring police officers to get there. Immediately after being sworn in on Jan. 20, 2025, President Trump proceeded to fully pardon 1,500 insurrectionists, 1,030 of whom admitted their own guilt for their actions.