Trump Puts Hundreds of Violent Criminals Back on the Streets
Somehow, the headlines describing that Trump pardoned most of those convicted or charged for January 6 forgot to mention hundreds of them were convicted of violent assaults on cops.
The grant of clemency is actually somewhat interesting. Contrary to reports, almost everyone got pardoned. The exceptions — those whose sentences were commuted, rather than pardoned, are many of the top Oath Keepers and Proud Boys.
- 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
But the list is inconsistent. For example, Jeremy Bertino cooperated against the others (but has not yet been sentenced). He got a pardon with everyone else. But others (like Joshua James, who pled guilty to sedition) who cooperated are not on this list, and as a result will get a full pardon.
If this were reported correctly, it would exacerbate the anger a good number of Trump allies must feel right now: A number of Republicans, including even Mike Johnson, spoke out against pardoning the violent cop assailants. Trump ignored them all.
Ah well, I know it was a busy day, but you’d think you could get the headline right. Most of the people freed are not pre-trial defendants. They’re convicted criminals, hundreds for assaults on cops, many who pled guilty, just let out the door as one of Trump’s first acts as President.
Update: Trump put Ed Martin, someone involved in Stop the Steal, in charge of the DC US Attorney’s Office.
Update: In an Executive Order prioritizing the death penalty, Trump called for the death penalty for those who succeed in murdering cops.
(b) In addition to pursuing the death penalty where possible, the Attorney General shall, where consistent with applicable law, pursue Federal jurisdiction and seek the death penalty regardless of other factors for every federal capital crime involving:
(i) The murder of a law-enforcement officer; or
Yesterday, Danny Rodriguez was freed for nearly murdering Michael Fanone.
Trump also ordered DOJ to prioritize violent crime, like those committed by hundreds of the people he freed yesterday.
Sec. 6. Prosecuting Crime to Protect Communities. (a) The Attorney General shall appropriately prioritize public safety and the prosecution of violent crime, and take all appropriate action necessary to dismantle transnational criminal activity in the United States. [my empahsis]
Meanwhile, DOJ is issuing orders to halt the prosecution of people accused of violent crime.
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. The Bureau of Prisons shall immediately implement all instructions from the Department of Justice regarding this directive. [my emphasis]
Now we’re into post truth, “conservative” misconduct is heavily watered down. Even BBC is describing them as “defendants”.
Another example of sanewashing is France24 described Musk’s Nazi salute as a “strange gesture”.
These commutations, will get the Jan6 ringleaders out of jail, but won’t restore their civil rights (ability to own firearms, etc.) I predict that the Trump regime will watch and see if they make themselves useful, and may yet reward them with full pardons at a later date.
Even though I expected this, I was still surprised by the brazenness of these pardons. Forget Pax Americana—I no longer even think the United States of America will survive the next four years.
I hope someone is tracking the criminal recidivism and violence these losers perpetrate when they get out, for future Nuremberg-like trials. The irresponsibility of Trump’s actions are beyond the pale. No responsible attorney would sign off on this nonsense. I continue to believe that lawlessness cannot last forever and these maladjusted scofflaws, including Trump, will be held to account at long last.
A Tale of Two Newspapers – Washington Post writes about Trump releasing Jan 6th defendants. The NY Times correctly notes that they were all convicted and writes an editorial about how unwise this is and how this serves Trump’s purpose of trying to rewrite history.
I feel sorry for those who testified against them and for the country.
Who will protect the family of Rhodes? Will others of this group be persecuted for their testimonies? Stand by. What a day.
I hope someone in the media will track all those released and let us know if they commit crimes… and then lay those crimes at the feet of Trump. But likely I am just dreaming.
This today from Heather Cox Richardson:
“His pardon also included Daniel Rodriguez, who was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to tasing Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who suffered cardiac arrest and a traumatic brain injury. ‘Omg I did so much f—ing s— r[ight] n[ow] and got away,’ he texted to his gang. ‘Tazzed the f— out of the blue[.]’”
This one EO is just one of many EOs that Trump signed yesterday that shows who he is: an incredibly insane sociopath. A vindictive small d-energy old man with the emotional maturity of a middle school kid.
It’s going to be a LONG four years of Trump’s insanity and abuse he’ll heap onto good Americans trying to do the right thing and live their lives who just want to be left alone.
Not shocked, yet also unable to expertly appreciate the local and historical reverberations. However, what of all the judges and attorneys, FBI agents, the aforementioned witnesses, who work in the system of justice? What is in store for them?
Today, ‘the day after,’ the justice system and the military are to undergo what kinds of reconfigurations?
Trump is a mafia boss. Always has been and always will be. I wonder was CJ Roberts is thinking now. Probably he is still wearing that sh*t eating grin on his face.
A no doubt sobering read that I have just begun. The list of Presidential (Executive) Actions: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/
This one in particular is gonna hurt (INITIAL RESCISSIONS OF HARMFUL EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND ACTIONS) :https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/2025/01/initial-rescissions-of-harmful-executive-orders-and-actions/