"Unbelievable" - Martina Navratilova voices fury over Donald Trump granting clemency to controversial January 6 defendants
Tennis legend Martina Navratilova has criticized Donald Trump supporters for their reactions to presidential pardons. Navratilova's comments come in the wake of President Trump's recent clemency for individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, contrasting sharply with the reactions to pardons by a Democratic President.
The controversy began on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump, immediately after his inauguration, issued a sweeping pardon for individuals convicted or charged in connection with the Capitol attack that took place on January 6, 2021.
This executive action resulted in the release of approximately 1,500 individuals and the dismissal of pending cases related to the events of that day. Among those pardoned were leaders of extremist groups such as the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, including Stewart Rhodes and Enrique Tarrio.
Navratilova reacted to the news by slamming Donald Trump supporters regarding their reactions to pardons by a Democratic President. She wrote on X (formerly Twitter):
"Unbelievable. Trump supporters need to STFU about any previous or future pardon by a Democratic President..."
Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers militia, was serving an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy. Following the pardon, he was released from the Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland.
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, was serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy and was also released immediately after the pardon.
The presidential proclamation granted full, complete, and unconditional pardons to all individuals convicted of offenses related to the January 6 events. Additionally, the Department of Justice was directed to seek dismissal of all pending indictments related to the Capitol attack.
In the final days of his presidency, Joe Biden issued a series of preemptive pardons covering family members, key officials, and individuals involved in investigating the January 6 Capitol riot.
These actions were perceived as measures to shield them from potential legal action by the incoming administration. Among those pardoned were President Biden's brother James Biden, his brother and sister Francis Biden and Valerie Biden Owens, and their spouses. Previously, Biden had pardoned his son Hunter Biden for firearms and tax convictions.
Key officials pardoned included Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and Biden’s chief medical adviser, and General Mark Milley, the retired Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Members of the January 6 committee, including Rep. Bennie Thompson and Rep. Liz Cheney were also pardoned to protect them from potential prosecutions related to their roles in investigating the Capitol riot.
Martina Navratilova responds strongly to Donald Trump’s remarks blaming Nancy Pelosi for the January 6 riots
Martina Navratilova reacted to Donald Trump's inauguration day comments, where he blamed Nancy Pelosi for the January 6 Capitol attack.
On January 20, during his second inauguration speech, Trump claimed Pelosi rejected his offer of 10,000 soldiers before the attack, accusing her of being responsible for Capitol security, destroying evidence, and knowing about the situation.
“She knows this, she admitted it on tape, that her daughter made, she's a videographer. but we offered her 10000 soldiers, in other words, J6 wouldn't be J6, they wouldn't have been J6 but she rebuffed them, she didn't like it, maybe she wanted that to happen, but she's guilty as hell, and now we would have to go through the process because they destroyed all evidence, they deleted everything,” Donald Trump said.
Reacting to the statement, the 18-time Grand Slam singles champion stated that Trump is still not telling the truth about the riot.
"Still lying," Martina Navratilova wrote.
In other news, Martina Navratilova praised Joe Biden for his gesture of granting clemency to long-imprisoned Indigenous activist Leonard Peltier before handing over the presidency to Donald Trump.