Trump, GOP Push to Clear Officers Convicted in Suspect Deaths

Man in suit speaking at podium with flag background

President Trump and Republican lawmakers are advancing initiatives to exonerate police officers convicted in suspect deaths, signaling a definitive shift in criminal justice priorities since the George Floyd protests of 2020.

Key Takeaways

President Trump has pardoned police officers involved in fatal incidents and is facing pressure to consider a pardon for Derek Chauvin, the officer convicted in George Floyd’s death
Republican governors are increasingly using pardon powers to commute or clear officers’ sentences in what they view as politically motivated prosecutions
Law enforcement advocates argue many prosecutions were unprecedented and influenced by biased media coverage
Critics, including some Democratic lawmakers, accuse Trump of hypocrisy for supporting police while pardoning January 6 participants
The shifting approach represents a significant reversal from post-George Floyd reform momentum

Trump’s Law Enforcement Agenda

President Trump has made supporting law enforcement a cornerstone of his administration’s criminal justice approach. In a recent address to Congress, Trump emphasized the need for police support and proposed a mandatory death penalty for individuals convicted of murdering police officers. The National Fraternal Order of Police reported a decrease in police shootings in early 2025 compared to 2024, a statistic the administration has highlighted as evidence of its law enforcement policies’ effectiveness. Trump has also called for new crime legislation targeting repeat offenders and enhancing protections for police officers.

Trump’s administration has already taken significant steps to reverse what it perceives as overzealous prosecutions of police officers. He previously pardoned two Washington D.C. police officers, Terence Sutton and Andrew Zabavsky, who were convicted in connection with a 2020 chase that resulted in a motorcyclist’s death. These pardons align with Trump’s broader commitment to what his supporters describe as restoring balance to a justice system they believe became skewed against law enforcement during the previous administration.

Republican Governors Follow Suit

The presidential pardons are part of a wider trend among Republican leaders. Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin commuted the sentence of Wesley Shifflett, a police officer convicted in a 2023 shooting, arguing the punishment was disproportionate. Missouri’s governor similarly pardoned Eric DeValkenaere, an officer convicted in a 2021 shooting incident. These actions reflect what many Republicans see as necessary corrections to what they characterize as politically motivated prosecutions emerging from the post-Floyd era.

“I am convinced that the court’s sentence of incarceration is unjust and violates the cornerstone of our justice system — that similarly situated individuals receive proportionate sentences,” said Mr. Youngkin.

Jason Johnson of the Law Enforcement Legal Defense Fund attributes this shift to changing public attitudes and a reassessment of media narratives surrounding police-involved incidents. Prosecutions led by district attorneys backed by progressive donors are receiving particular scrutiny, with calls for pardons in cases like an Austin officer’s conviction. Conservative media figures, including Ben Shapiro, have publicly called for the pardon of Derek Chauvin, arguing evidence does not support the murder conviction. However, according to a statement made by Trump on Friday, he is not considering a pardon for Chauvin.

Backlash from Democratic Critics

The administration’s police support initiatives have drawn sharp criticism from Democratic lawmakers and former law enforcement officials. Former Capitol Police Officer Harry Dunn has been particularly vocal, accusing Trump of hypocrisy for pardoning individuals involved in the January 6 events while claiming to support law enforcement. Several Democratic representatives have highlighted what they see as a contradiction between Trump’s public statements supporting police and his actions pardoning individuals convicted of attacking officers.

“Trump talks a big game about standing with … the blue, yet on the first day of his administration he pardoned hundreds of cop-beaters who tried to steal an election on January 6, 2021,” said Rep. Sylvia Garcia.

U.S. Capitol Police have our backs every day. I don’t know how my GOP colleagues can look them in the eye knowing they elected a president who has turned his back on them.

These pardons are a slap in the face to the officers who were injured defending our democracy that day. https://t.co/CA0QinKLNb

— Congressman Bill Foster (@RepBillFoster) January 23, 2025

Critics also point to administration staffing decisions, including reductions in the federal workforce affecting FBI and Department of Justice personnel. Representative Lois Frankel has argued these cuts undermine safety and security efforts. The president’s failure to address the January 6 events in his Congressional speech has further fueled criticism from those who see selective support for law enforcement based on political considerations rather than principle.

The Shifting Justice Landscape

Law enforcement advocates argue that many prosecutions of police officers were unprecedented and politically motivated. Metropolitan Police Chief Pamela A. Smith noted that some officers faced charges for performing core functions of their jobs. Critics of these prosecutions point to what they describe as media bias that influenced public perception and legal outcomes in ways unfavorable to police officers faced with split-second decisions in dangerous situations.

“If you just look at the unfairness of these prosecutions, they were all in their own ways unprecedented,” said Mr. Johnson.

The ongoing efforts to pardon or commute sentences for convicted officers represent a significant reversal from the criminal justice reform momentum that followed George Floyd’s death in 2020. That period saw widespread calls for increased police accountability and transparency. The current approach instead emphasizes the challenges faced by law enforcement and questions whether justice was properly served in high-profile convictions that occurred during a period of intense public pressure for prosecutions.