A Ridgefield man who was convicted in the Jan. 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol was released from prison Tuesday, following President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardons during his first day in office.

Patrick McCaughey III was one of about a dozen Connecticut residents included in the over 1,500 pardons of Jan. 6 defendants. McCaughey, 27, was serving the longest sentence of any of them, 7 ½ years at a federal prison in Ohio. He was convicted of seven felony charges including assaulting a police officer with a dangerous weapon.

“In terms of Pat, I'm just very very relieved that President Trump had the backbone to take some measure to balance the scales of justice,” said attorney Lindy Urso, who represented McCaughey at his trial in Washington, D.C.

McCaughey, who had no prior criminal record, was captured on video using a police shield to shove an officer into a doorway, where he was crushed. Urso told News 12 that McCaughey got pushed along with the crowd and ended up at the front but never assaulted anyone.

“He made some mistakes, but he should never be branded a felon and certainly not a violent felon,” Urso stated. “The time he's done is more than enough for the mistakes he made.”

McCaughey’s release comes less than two years into his sentence. The pardon means not only the end of further punishment but the restoration of rights including being able to own a gun, vote and run for office.

“I think it's a good thing for the country. If we're going to have some sort of national healing, healing of this rift—this political rift—I think this is a good start,” Urso said.

But there was no agreement from Connecticut Democrats, who condemned the pardons.

“I was shocked. I mean, you can say, ‘Look, some of these people got wrapped up in the event.’ Pardon if they didn't commit any crimes. But you're pardoning people who beat the stuffings out of police. I mean, I thought Republicans had the backs of police. I’m shocked that more people aren't speaking out about that,” Gov. Ned Lamont told reporters.

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal released the following statement in response: “These mass pardons are sickening— the ultimate disrespect for police officers who were assaulted brutally by criminal rioters, suffering lasting injuries and death in some cases. Giving a blanket pass to cop killers and other insurrectionists, convicted by juries of everyday Americans, discredits justice and law enforcement. Shame on Republican colleagues who were protected that terrible day and now stay silent.”

U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy posted pictures from the attack on social media, writing, “My stomach is churning right now as I’m reviewing images for my floor speech tomorrow on the violent felons Trump pardoned. Here’s David Dempsey beating officers with a flagpole. He got a full pardon and is being let out jail. We can’t let this feel normal.”

U.S. Rep. Jim Himes shared his opinion on social media, posting, “The attack was vicious, violent and an affront to our democracy and law and order. Trump’s decision to pardon is a grotesque abuse of authority and a betrayal of our democracy.”