It’s been five years since over 2,000 people stormed the U.S. Capitol, violently discontent with the 2020 election. Most of those rioters are now pardoned- which Pennsylvania Democrats say sends the wrong message about political violence.
Democratic senators marked the anniversary of January 6th today with a moment of silence and a read through of time stamps of the events of the day.
“2:11 pm, rioters smashed through the first floor windows,” said Sen. Art Haywood, a Democrat from Philadelphia. “At 2:13 pm, the senate is in process to confirm the election results- but they are evacuated.”
Five years later, Americans are split on the significance of the attack. A 2025 poll showed 59% of Americans describe January 6 as an insurrection, while 38% saw it as election protests.
Democratic senate leader Jay Costa says he sees the capitol attack and President Donald Trump’s responses as a catalyst for increasing political violence.
“Instead of denouncing what occurred there, he’s publicizing it in a positive light and letting people know that ‘it’s ok to have what happened there. And don’t worry about the consequences’,” Costa said. “That’s not where we should be.”
Senators today focused on Trump’s pardon of most January 6 rioters last year.
Of the roughly 1,600 people charged with crimes related to the January 6 riot— around 600 were charged with assaulting or interfering with police officers.
“[law enforcement] deem that to be a slap in the face,” Costa said. “That these individuals would not be able to serve the punishment that was rightfully doled out to them.”
State senator Doug Mastriano was at the U.S. capitol the day of the riot in 2021. When asked if the pardons sent an inconsistent message about political violence, Mastriano said most people were pardoned from misdemeanors.
“Most of these sort of charges were on illegal trespass, and it was a political witch hunt,” Mastriano said.
Over 100 Pennsylvanians were pardoned from January 6 related crimes.
Last year, around 60% of Americans disapproved of Trump’s January 6 pardons.
Four protestors died day of in the attack, and one capitol police officer died the day after from two strokes. Four other law enforcement officers died by suicide in the months that followed. NPR reports there was $3 million in damages to the capitol, and that $2.7 billion has been spent on January 6 related expenses since then.
“There is plenty of video about what happened that day and it is available,” Haywood said. “I encourage each of you to look at it and make a judgment for yourselves.”