More than a dozen people identified by the previous administration as members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers and arrested for involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol Riot were pardoned this week by President Donald Trump.
“This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation,” said a statement posted to the White House website Monday, the day Trump was sworn in to his second term. After former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election, a crowd stormed the Capitol and attempted to prevent the certification of Electoral College votes in a deadly riot.
Trump has been criticized for his actions during the rally and after, including continued claims of voter fraud related to the 2020 election. He has also called Jan. 6 a “day of love” and other Republicans have discussed visiting people arrested in association with the riot in jail.
With his Monday proclamation, Trump commuted the sentenced of 14 individuals convicted of offenses related to Jan. 6. They are:
Stewart Rhodes
Kelly Meggs
Kenneth Harrelson
Thomas Caldwell
Jessica Watkins
Roberto Minuta
Edward Vallejo
David Moerschel
Joseph Hackett
Ethan Nordean
Joseph Biggs
Zachary Rehl
Dominic Pezzola
Jeremy Bertino
Rhodes and Meggs have been identified as leaders of the Oath Keepers. Watkins, Harrelson, Caldwell coordinated with them on the day of the riot, per the DOJ. Minuta, Vallejo, Hackett and Moerschel have also been identified as members of the Oath Keepers.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Oath Keepers are a far-right antigovernment group that claims to have tens of thousands of members who were formerly or are currently in law enforcement and the military. It also said that: “The threats to American liberties that Oath Keepers say the federal government is responsible for are in reality a set of baseless conspiracy theories.”
Nordean, Biggs, Rehl, Pezzola and Bertino have all been identified as leaders of the Proud Boys. Per the SPLC, the Proud Boys are a self-described “Western chauvinist” group and its leaders “regularly spout white nationalist memes.”
As of this month, more than 1,265 people have been changed in connection with the riot, according to a press release issued by the Department of Justice shortly before Trump took office. Approximate losses suffered as a result of the siege at the Capitol were also estimated to be nearly $3 million as of October 2022.
“That amount reflects, among other things, damage to the Capitol building and grounds and certain costs borne by the U.S. Capitol Police,” said the release.
In addition to the pardons of the 14 aforementioned people, the proclamation apparently granted “full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
“I further direct the Attorney General to pursue dismissal with prejudice to the government of all pending indictments against individuals for their conduct related to the events at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021,” Trump said. “The Bureau of Prisons shall immediately implement all instructions from the Department of Justice regarding this directive.”
Earlier this month, an NPR/PBS News/Marist poll found that around 60% of Americans disapproved of Trump pardoning people involved in the riot. Even one man who served time in prison for his participation said that he didn’t want to be pardoned.
CBS News reported that Jason Riddle of Keene, N.H. admitted to chugging a bottle of wine as he went into the Capitol and stole a book on Senate procedure. He said the 90 days he served in prison helped him finally get treatment for alcohol addiction.
“It’s a horrible lesson for younger generations,” said Riddle. “The things I did on January 6, I did them and a pardon is to not accept that. That’s why I’m not going to accept the pardon, I accept reality, I’m keeping my criminal record, thank you, but no thank you.”