Republican senators struggled to defend Donald Trump’s decision to commute and pardon hundreds of January 6 protesters including those who were charged and convicted of crimes against police officers,

Even Republicans who once said violent rioters should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law declined to criticize the presidential clemency for violent offenders, saying it was time to move on.

GOP lawmakers had said repeatedly that violent offenders shouldn’t be pardoned and clemency should be considered on a case-by-case basis.