So I want to ask you about the vice president, J.D. Vance, he said, if this is a week ago, he said, if you committed violence on January 6th, obviously you should not be pardoned. Why is your vice president wrong?

Well, only for one reason. They've served years in jail. They should not have served, excuse me. They've served years in jail, and murderers don't even go to jail on this country.

And we had 1,500, we have 16 under review, as you know, we commuted about 16 of them because it looks like they could have done things that were not acceptable for a full pardon.

But these people have served years of jail,

their lives have been ruined.

That was President Trump yesterday,

defending his pardons for around 1,500 people

charged with crimes connected with the January 6th attack on the Capitol.

We'll have more on his comments from the White House,

as well as reaction from Republican senators on Capitol Hill.

We'll also hear from a former metropolitan police officer

who was beaten by rioters while defending the Capitol.

Michael Fanon will join us in just a moment.

Plus, we'll go through the new allegations against Pete

Hegeseth days before the Senate is expected to vote on his nomination for Secretary of Defense.

Also ahead, the president has terminated Secret Service Protection for an advisor from his first

term. We'll explain that situation and will have latest on the extreme weather sweeping across the south.

Incredible.

Good morning and welcome to Morning Joe.

It is Wednesday, January 22nd.

Along with Willie and me, we have the co-host of our fourth hour, Jonathan LaMere.

He's a contributing writer at the Atlantic covering the White House and national politics.

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