President Donald J. Trump is granting comprehensive clemency to individuals involved in the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. The clemency affects nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the event, offering pardons to most and commuting sentences for 14 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, organizations whose members were largely convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The decision reverses the sentences for both nonviolent offenders and those who engaged in assault against law enforcement officers during the riot. The move effectively nullifies years of lawfare by the Biden government, which saw prosecutorial overreach and enhanced sentences predicated on dubious legal statutes.
In the directive, President Trump instructs the Department of Justice (DOJ) to dismiss remaining indictments against individuals facing charges related to the January 6 incident. “They’ve already been in jail for a long time,” Trump said, announcing the clemency from the Oval Office. He added: “These people have been destroyed.”
The clemency extends to approximately 1,000 defendants facing misdemeanor charges such as disorderly conduct, unauthorized entry to restricted Capitol areas, and trespassing. Several of these individuals have served limited or no jail time. Additionally, the pardons also cover those charged with assaulting law enforcement—some of whom are serving sentences exceeding ten years.
Additionally, the decision allows for the immediate release and expungement of records for the defendants.
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