Rep. Watson Coleman Statement on Trump Executive Orders and Pardoning of Violent January 6th Insurrectionists

Washington, D.C. (Tuesday, January 21, 2025) — Today, Rep. Watson Coleman (NJ-12) issued the following statement regarding the slew of executive orders President Trump signed last night, as well as his disgraceful decision to pardon violent insurrectionists who stormed the Capitol and assaulted police officers on January 6th, 2021.

“Last night, President Trump immediately broke his promise to bring down costs for working families. Among the many executive orders he signed, was a reversal of a program that capped prescription drug prices. In one of his first acts in office, Trump backed Big Pharma over the American people.

“He also signed an unconstitutional order to overturn the 14th Amendment and deny citizenship to lawful Americans. He withdrew the United States from the Paris Climate Accords, so his wealthy corporate donors can pollute to their hearts’ content. And he removed protections for the largest natural wildlife preserve in the country, so the oil executives who funded his campaign can devastate America’s ecosystems as they pursue even greater profits.

“This is what we can expect from a president who has stacked his cabinet with billionaires, whose campaign was funded by billionaires, whose inauguration was a who’s-who of billionaires. Make no mistake: this is an administration bought and paid for by billionaires.

“But he didn’t stop there. Last night, President Trump pardoned nearly all of those convicted for crimes related to the January 6th assault on the Capitol. He pardoned violent criminals serving jail time for assaulting police officers, including the individuals convicted of attacking USCP Officer Brian Sicknick, who later died as a result of injuries sustained while he was defending the Capitol. Officer Sicknick grew up in my district. Members of his family are constituents of mine and they are outraged to see the President dismiss their loss by pardoning those responsible. 

“These pardons are utterly disgraceful. They send a message to others who would commit violence on behalf of the President: you can get away with it. They send a message to the USCP officers who defend our government every day: you don’t matter. They send a message to the American public: President Trump endorses political violence. 

“It’s an astonishing act from a president who himself was a victim of political violence during the campaign. 

“I condemn in the strongest possible terms the actions taken by President Trump last night. They are a betrayal of his voters, of the country, and of the Constitution which only yesterday he swore to uphold.”

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