Democrats, Republicans react to Trump’s January 6 pardon
House Republicans and Democrats reacted to President Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardon.
President Donald Trump has pardoned two Washington, D.C., police officers convicted in the death of Carvin Helton Brown, who was riding a moped on a sidewalk without a helmet when he ignored orders to stop.
According to federal prosecutors, those instructions came from police officer Terrence D. Sutton, who then followed Helton-Brown in a car for more than 10 blocks, including down the street with emergency lights and sirens on. Prosecutors have said that Helton-Brown was hit by another car as he exited the street and that Sutton and fellow officer Andrew Zabowski agreed to cover up Sutton’s actions as he lay unconscious.
The pair allowed the driver of the other car to get in within 20 minutes, turned off their body cameras, confirmed, and then began investigating without contacting the Metropolitan Police Department’s major accident and internal affairs units. According to Department of Justice.
Sutton was convicted by a federal jury in December 2022 of second-degree murder, conspiracy to obstruct and obstruction of justice. A judge sentenced him to 5 and a half years in prison. The same jury found Zabavsky guilty of obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct. He was sentenced to four years in prison.
The D.C. police union, as well as lawyers for the officers, demanded an apology from the Trump administration. CNN.
Neither Sutton nor Zabowski were behind bars at the time of Trump’s pardon on Wednesday. NBC4 Washington. Both remained free while they appealed their cases.
Hylton-Brown’s mother, Karen Hylton, urged Trump to take a different approach in a statement before the pardon, according to NBC4 Washington.
“President Trump, as the mother of a child whom I love, I am requesting to speak with you privately,” she said. “Please don’t excuse Sutton and Zabowski.”
In a statement to USA TODAY, Sutton’s attorney, Kellan Dwyer, said, “While we believe the D.C. Circuit would have overturned these convictions, we are grateful that President Trump has Done forever.” The D.C. Circuit is a federal appeals court.
Zabowski’s attorney, Christopher Zampogna, said in a statement that his client “thanks President Trump for granting him a full and unconditional pardon for a case that should never have been brought and, although we have to deal with the matter on appeal.” We are very excited about President Trump’s pardon.”
(This story has been updated to include additional information.)
