Trump Puts 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]

Update: Via Harry Dunn, here’s all the automated notices that Aquilino Gonell has gotten telling him that people he testified against — all of whom assaulted him — have been released.

Update: Elevating Critter7’s link to the most recent update from DC USAO on the investigation. It says 174 people were charged with using a deadly weapon or causing serious bodily harm to a cop.

  • Approximately 608 charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding law enforcement agents or officers or obstructing those officers during a civil disorder, including approximately 174 defendants charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing serious bodily injury to an officer;

[snip]

Of those who pled guilty to felonies, 172 pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement; 130 pleaded guilty to obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder (riot); 69 pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement with a dangerous or deadly weapon; and 4 pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy– conspiring to use force against the United States. Some of these defendants pled guilty to one or multiple felony charges related to their conduct.