Several thoughts come to mind regarding President Donald Trump’s blanket pardons and commutation of sentences of convicted Jan. 6, 2020 rioters, including those who committed violent, destructive and seditious acts to overthrow the democratically elected government.

In the weeks prior to his inauguration President-elect Trump had suggested that instead of blanket pardons, he would look at the Jan. 6 defendants on a “case-by-case basis.”