NYT Discovers a Love for Jailing Criminals

I did a double-take when I woke up this morning.

For a moment, I thought I was living in an alternate reality in which the lefties at The New York Times’ editorial board actually cared about the victims of crime. 

But no, it was just Trump Derangement Syndrome rearing its ugly head. 

The Times editorial board points out that 12 people Trump pardoned for January 6 offenses have been rearrested in the 14 months since Trump pardoned them. Trump pardoned 1270 January 6 convicts. That is a rate of 1% of pardon recipients reoffending.

Among arrestees free… https://t.co/CxhU6fk2Fj

— Daniel Friedman (@DanFriedman81) April 1, 2026

The Times editorial board points out that 12 people Trump pardoned for January 6 offenses have been rearrested in the 14 months since Trump pardoned them.  Trump pardoned 1270 January 6 convicts.  That is a rate of 1% of pardon recipients reoffending.

Among arrestees free pending trial in New York City under the 2018 bail reform, about 22% are rearrested within 6 months.  The people we need to worry about becoming repeat offenders after being absolved of punishment are not the J6ers.  

I am all for a punitive justice system. I am all for mass incarceration. But to pretend the J6 offenders are dangerous recidivists who need to be locked up while it’s fine to immediately release most criminals arrested by the NYPD is profoundly ridiculous.

Maybe it was an April Fool’s joke? The New York Times,  which is deeply upset that Trump is arresting rapists, pedophiles, and sex traffickers to deport, wants you to know that the people Trump pardoned over January 6th infractions are on a crime spree. 

Crime spree. 

Apparently, of the more than 1200 people he has pardoned, 12 have been arrested for a crime since their pardon.  

“One does not have to be a criminologist to predict that people who commit a violent act and are absolved of any punishment might become repeat offenders,”

Twelve people. Obviously, I want any of these people who committed a crime to get the appropriate punishment, and I wish I could say the same thing about New York Times readers and writers. 

But they only care about criminals who support Donald Trump. Antifa rioters? They are “protesters.” Homeless drug addicts pooping on the streets? “Victims.” Somali fraudsters? No big deal. Hamas supporters taking over college campuses? They are bravely expressing their First Amendment rights. 

The man who slashed Iryna Zarutska’s throat committed more felonies than all the January 6ers combined, and The New York Times barely tut-tuts. Illegal alien gang members? They are our “neighbors.”

But people who trespassed the Capitol? They deserve the death penalty, apparently. 

I wonder if the Times has looked into how many of the autopen pardonees have committed criminal offenses? I’m willing to take a thousand-dollar bet that it never occurred to them, and that they are entirely uninterested. 

I suppose that I should be pleased that a crime so enraged the Times’ editorial board that they endorsed the concept of punishing criminals, but…no. 

They don’t want to punish criminals. They want to punish Trump and his supporters. They don’t give a rip about criminal recidivists. They want blood. 

Editor’s note: If we thought our job in pushing back against the Academia/media/Democrat censorship complex was over with the election, think again. This is going to be a long fight. If you want to join the conversation in the comments — and support independent platforms — why not join our VIP Membership program? Choose VIP to support Hot Air and access our premium content, VIP Gold to extend your access to all Townhall Media platforms and participate in this show, or VIP Platinum to get access to even more content and discounts on merchandise. Use the promo code FIGHT to join or to upgrade your existing membership level today, and get 60% off!