Former DOJ Official Slams Trump's Pardons of January 6 Rioters, Calls Investigation "Apolsital"

Strategic Insights -

Mike Romano, who supervised the federal government's effort to prosecute crimes related to the January 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol, expressed his strong disapproval of President Donald Trump's decision to pardon the rioters during a discussion at Harvard Law School on Wednesday. Romano, who spent four years trying to prosecute individuals involved in the riots as Deputy Chief of the Capitol Siege Section at the Department of Justice under the Biden administration, called Trump's move "nonsense" and "a process of national reconciliation" that sweeps the truth under a rug.

Romano highlighted the devastating impact of the pardons on the investigation, stating that he knew he had to start looking for a new job when Trump announced the sweeping pardons in January. He ultimately resigned from his Justice Department position in March, citing personal difficulty in thinking about the pardons that wiped away his work of four years. Romano labeled the rioters "terrorists" and emphasized that their goal was to occupy the building and force members of Congress to do what the mob wanted them to do through fear and force.

The investigation into the riots was apolitical, Romano noted, and no political leaders ever attempted to direct prosecutors on how to proceed. However, he expressed concern about the current state of the Justice Department, which he said had been weaponized by the Trump administration, pointing to the recent indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia A. James.

Romano encouraged employees within the Justice Department to "take their ethical responsibilities" seriously, especially in the face of external political pressure. He stated that the Constitution restricts the behavior they are seeing now, but it requires people to hold the administration accountable.

Key Takeaways:

  • Mike Romano, former Deputy Chief of the Capitol Siege Section at the Department of Justice, called President Donald Trump's decision to pardon January 6 rioters "nonsense" and "a process of national reconciliation" that sweeps the truth under a rug.
  • Romano spent four years trying to prosecute individuals involved in the riots but resigned from his Justice Department position in March after Trump announced the pardons in January.
  • Romano labeled the rioters "terrorists" and emphasized that their goal was to occupy the building and force members of Congress to do what the mob wanted them to do through fear and force.
  • The investigation into the riots was apolitical, and no political leaders ever attempted to direct prosecutors on how to proceed.
  • Romano expressed concern about the current state of the Justice Department, which he said had been weaponized by the Trump administration.
  • He pointed to the recent indictment of former FBI director James B. Comey and New York Attorney General Letitia A. James as an example of this.
  • Romano encouraged employees within the Justice Department to "take their ethical responsibilities" seriously, especially in the face of external political pressure.

Statistics:

  • Over 53,000 Trump supporters attended the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol.
  • A majority of the Jan. 6 rioters convicted were charged with trespassing and disorderly conduct, both of which are misdemeanors.

Sources:

  • Romano, Mike. Discussion at Harvard Law School, Wednesday.
  • Article title: "Former DOJ Official Slams Trump's Pardons of January 6 Rioters, Calls Investigation 'Apolitical'."
  • Harvard Law School Democrats. "Discussion at Harvard Law School."