Letter to the editor: Trump pardons, Epstein cover-up endanger children

First published in the Brunswick Beacon, 03.05.26

Before his inauguration, Trump claimed he would pardon Jan. 6 rioters on a “case-by-case” basis. JD Vance said violent offenders “shouldn’t be pardoned.” 

But they were. On Inauguration Day, Trump pardoned all 1,600 Jan. 6 attackers — including those who injured 140 police officers. He called them “great people” who “protested peacefully,” adding, “I call them the J-6 patriots.” He discussed compensating them for being prosecuted “because a lot of people in government really like that group.”  

Asked why he broke his promise to examine “each individual case,” Trump said it would have been “very, very cumbersome.” According to one Trump advisor, when the time came to review them, “Trump just said, ‘F-k it. Release ’em all.’” 

Our senator, Thom Tillis (R-NC), said Trump’s blanket pardon of rioters “convicted of assault on a police officer” raised “legitimate safety issues.”  

Tillis was right. So far, at least 33 Jan. 6 attackers pardoned by Trump have been charged with other crimes. Tragically, their victims include children:  

• David Daniel (NC) was indicted for producing and possessing child pornography.

• Andrew Taake (TX) is awaiting trial for solicitation of a child.

• Kyle Colton (CA) was sentenced to six years for receiving videos depicting graphic sexual abuse of young children.

• Andrew Johnson (FL) was convicted of exposing himself and molesting two children.

At sentencing, Judge Luis Delgado described Jeffrey Epstein — who called himself “Don’s best friend” — as “America’s most infamous pedophile.” Trump dismissed the Epstein case as a “hoax” and called Epstein a “terrific guy” and “a lot of fun to be with.” Video shows them partying together at Mar-a-Lago.

Trump appears in 5300 Epstein files released so far. In one, the FBI details an allegation that “Don’s best friend” introduced Trump to a girl who claimed Trump sexually molested her when she “would have been 13–15.”

A president who pardons child molesters and parties with pedophiles cannot be trusted to protect America’s children.

Michael Maisel

Sunset Beach