By Lindsay Press
President Donald Trump signed an executive order pardoning those who were arrested and jailed for taking part in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol Building. Some of those who were pardoned had assaulted Capitol police officers.
Many of those pardoned were from Long Island, such as twenty-five-year-old conservative influencer Isabella Maria DeLuca. DeLuca told the New York Post, “Tonight, I was pardoned by President Trump. Thank you God.”
Other Long Island residents who were pardoned include Peter Moloney (Bayport), Matthew Schmit (Lindenhurst), Gabriel Morgan Brown (Bayville), Thomas Carey (Cold Spring Harbor), Thomas Fee (Freeport), Eric Gerwatowski (New Hyde Park), Frank Rocco Giustino (Kings Park), Zvonimir Joseph Jurlina (Bethpage), Justin McAuliffe (Bellmore), Christopher Ortiz (Huntington), Jon Lizak (Cold Spring Harbor), Kevin and Carol Moore (Massapequa), John O’Kelly (East Williston), and Greg Rubenacker (Farmingdale).
Moloney, O’Kelly, and Rubenacker were arrested and charged with assaulting officers.
Trump had made previous claims about standing in support of our nation’s police officers, but the leader of a local police union said Trump’s act directly contradicts his pro-police stance and may have betrayed police officers, a majority of whom made up his base.
“Pardoning anyone who attacks a police officer is almost as bad as giving pre-emptive pardons to one’s own family for unknown crimes,” said Suffolk County PBA President Lou Civello, referring to the pardons former president Joe Biden gave to his family members. “One cannot look at President Trump’s actions in a vacuum. We should consider the totality of the circumstances, including the recent actions taken by former President Biden.”
The Suffolk County PBA expressed their dissatisfaction with the pardons of those who attacked the Capitol police officers on Twitter/X. “While it may be appropriate to pardon some for Jan 6, no one who attacks a police officer should ever receive one.” The police union endorsed Donald Trump on Instagram, highlighting his commitment to the police department and support of the death penalty for those who kill police officers as a primary reason. The post stated, “Electing Donald Trump will be a harsh rebuke of the anti-police movement, and it will mark a return to a safer America,” and, “President Trump supports the death penalty for cop killers.”
Civello called Biden and Trump’s actions “inconsistent with the spirit of our constitution” and “represent a departure from the intent our founding fathers had when they bestowed this great power upon the commander and chief.”
But, while no police officers were killed at the scene of the riots, one officer, Brian Sicknick, passed away from a stroke as a result of injuries and reaction to a chemical spray he was assaulted with on duty during the January 6 riots. Also, in the aftermath of the riots, four Captiol Officers committed suicide, including Officer Howard Liebengood, Officer Jeffrey Smith, Officer Kyle DeFreyTag, and Officer Gunther Hashida. Each was cited as having been affected by the events of the riots.
“Pardons should only be given in cases that address injustices, foster unity, and promote the values of democracy,” Civello said.