SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) — Illinois House Democrats approved a resolution Wednesday condemning President Donald Trump for pardoning people convicted of crimes tied to the insurrection of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. House Republicans had the opportunity to vote alongside their colleagues, but they left the floor in protest.
Illinois House Democrats approved a resolution condemning President Donald Trump for pardoning January 6th insurrectionists during session on February 5, 2025.
Rep. Angelica Guerrero-Cuellar (D-Chicago) rarely speaks on the Illinois House floor. Yet, she is always willing to stand up for first responders. The Democrat is married to a Chicago police officer who was critically injured during a 2023 shooting.
"The President of the United States decided to tell me, my family, and the first responders' families that he doesn't care about honor and respect," Guerrero-Cuellar said. "He doesn't care about the ultimate sacrifice. I have some colorful words that I'm not going to say in this chamber, but I took it personal."
Guerrero-Cuellar said the blanket pardon of insurrectionists is disrespectful and hypocritical. Other House Democrats argued the video evidence of the attacks on police prove the criminals did not deserve pardons.
"There's no good reason to pardon somebody who's going to take a shield and try to cut some law enforcement officer's head off," said Rep. Bob Morgan (D-Highland Park). "There is no reason. There is no reason. There is no reason to ever pardon someone who is going to attack a police officer."
Democrats asked Republicans to show their support for law enforcement or their party's leader by voting on the resolution. However, GOP members walked out of the chamber without speaking or voting on the measure.
"We're just tired of the games that they play to try to politically grandstand and fearmonger the people that live here in Illinois," said House GOP Leader Tony McCombie (R-Savanna). "So, we just decided we're not going to do that."
House Democrats approved the resolution on a 73-0 vote. Still, local GOP members argue the majority party deflected from important state issues.
"We aren't talking about food safety and security," said Rep. Chris Miller (R-Hindsboro). "We aren't talking about quality education. We aren't talking about economic opportunity. We aren't talking about inflation, which is just absolutely destroying the middle class and hard-working families."
WAND News asked Miller, who participated in the January 6 rally, if he supported President Trump's pardons for insurrectionists. House GOP leaders blocked Miller from answering that question.
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