Federal prosecutor Brendan Ballou expressed concerns in a recent New York Times article about President Trump's pardons of over 1,500 Capitol rioters. He specifically highlighted the dangers posed by figures like Stewart Rhodes of the Oath Keepers and Enrique Tarrio of the Proud Boys. Ballou claims these pardons serve Trump's agenda by legitimizing these groups, which can act with vengeance against opponents. He argues that such actions resemble tactics used by authoritarian regimes that rely on unaccountable militias to enforce political power, raising alarms about the potential rise of vigilantes in the U.S.
Brendan Ballou warns that Trump's pardons may encourage right-wing militias and vigilantes to operate as unaccountable enforcers for their political interests.
Ballou argues that the pardons effectively legitimize groups like the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, allowing them to pursue revenge against perceived adversaries.
In his opinion editorial, Ballou connects the actions of these paramilitary groups to historical instances of militias enforcing state will in illiberal democracies.
He emphasizes that while some pardoned rioters may feel remorse, many others are emboldened and pose a significant threat to public safety.
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