Trump, GOP Push to Exonerate Officers in Suspect Deaths

Pardon spelled with wooden letter tiles blocks

President Trump leads a growing movement to pardon and exonerate police officers convicted in suspect deaths, signaling a dramatic shift from the George Floyd-era demands for law enforcement accountability.

Quick Takes

President Trump and Republican governors across the country are systematically overturning convictions of police officers in high-profile cases
Trump previously pardoned two D.C. police officers convicted in a 2020 incident that resulted in a motorcyclist’s death
Republican leaders claim officers have been unfairly prosecuted due to political pressure and media bias
Conservative figures and governors are specifically targeting cases prosecuted by district attorneys backed by George Soros
Democratic lawmakers and former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn accuse Trump of hypocrisy for pardoning Jan. 6 participants while claiming to support police

Trump Administration Leads Effort to Clear Convicted Officers

President Donald Trump is spearheading a nationwide effort to review, pardon, and commute sentences of police officers convicted in suspect deaths. This represents a significant departure from public sentiment following George Floyd’s death in 2020, when calls for police accountability reached unprecedented levels. The administration’s actions include Trump’s pardons of two D.C. police officers involved in a 2020 incident that resulted in a motorcyclist’s death, while conservative figures like Ben Shapiro and Elon Musk have publicly urged Trump to consider pardoning Derek Chauvin, the officer convicted in Floyd’s death. However, as of Friday, Trump made a statement that he would not be pardoning Chauvin.

“I am convinced that the court’s sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system — that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences,” said Gov. Glenn Youngkin.

In his address to Congress, Trump emphasized the need for stronger police support and proposed a mandatory death penalty for those convicted of murdering police officers. He called for a new crime bill targeting repeat offenders and enhancing police protections, noting data from the National Fraternal Order of Police showing a decrease in police shootings in early 2025 compared to 2024. These initiatives align with his campaign promises to restore “law and order” and counter what his supporters view as an anti-police climate.

Republican Governors Join Pardon Movement

The movement extends beyond federal action, with Republican governors using their pardon powers to counter what they describe as politically motivated prosecutions. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin commuted the sentence of officer Wesley Shifflett, who was convicted in a 2023 shooting. Similarly, Missouri’s governor pardoned officer Eric DeValkenaere, who had been convicted in a 2021 shooting. These actions reflect a growing sentiment among conservatives that officers have been unfairly scapegoated for performing their duties under difficult circumstances.

Jason Johnson of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund attributes these pardons to changing public attitudes and greater scrutiny of media narratives about police conduct. His organization has documented cases where they believe prosecutions were driven more by political pressure than evidence. Particular attention has focused on prosecutions by district attorneys backed by George Soros, with conservatives alleging these prosecutors have pursued ideologically motivated cases against officers rather than pursuing justice.

Jason Johnson said, “If you just look at the unfairness of these prosecutions, they were all in their own ways unprecedented.”

Democrats Criticize Trump’s Approach as Hypocritical

Democratic lawmakers have criticized Trump’s stance on law enforcement as hypocritical, particularly in light of his pardons for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot. Representatives Sylvia Garcia and Judy Chu highlighted what they see as a contradiction between Trump’s vocal support for police and his actions in pardoning those who attacked officers during the Capitol breach. They also expressed concern about the administration’s reduction of FBI and DOJ agents, which they argue undermines safety and security.

Rep. Sylvia Garcia said, “Trump talks a big game about standing with … the blue, yet on the first day of his administration he pardoned hundreds of cop-beaters who tried to steal an election on January 6, 2021.”

Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn has been particularly vocal in his criticism, directly addressing Trump’s pardons of individuals who attacked officers during the Capitol riot. Dunn, who testified about his experiences defending the Capitol, has accused Trump of undermining public safety while claiming to support law enforcement. Trump notably did not address the insurrection in his Congressional speech, despite ongoing allegations about his role in the events of January 6.

U.S. Capitol Police have our backs every day. I don’t know how my GOP colleagues can look them in the eye knowing they elected a president who has turned his back on them.

These pardons are a slap in the face to the officers who were injured defending our democracy that day. https://t.co/CA0QinKLNb

— Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) January 23, 2025

Police Leaders Voice Support for Exonerations

Law enforcement leaders have welcomed these pardons and commutations. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith defended the officers pardoned by Trump, stating that they were simply performing core functions of their job when they were prosecuted. Police unions and advocacy groups argue that these cases represent a dangerous precedent of criminalizing split-second decisions made by officers in potentially life-threatening situations, which they believe has contributed to difficulties in recruiting and retaining qualified officers.

Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith said, “Never before, in any other jurisdiction in the country, has a police officer been charged with second-degree murder for pursuing a suspect. These members could never have imagined that engaging in a core function of their job would be prosecuted as a crime.”

The pardon movement represents a significant pendulum swing in public discourse about policing. After years of intense scrutiny of law enforcement tactics and calls for reform following high-profile incidents like George Floyd’s death, the political climate appears to be shifting toward greater support for officers and skepticism of prosecutions against them. This trend reflects broader political polarization around criminal justice issues and signals a potential recalibration of expectations for police accountability under the Trump administration.