Updated January 20, 2025 at 21:03 PM ET
In a move that has stirred significant attention, President Trump has executed a sweeping act of clemency, pardoning approximately 1,500 individuals linked to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. This action aligns with his previous promises during his campaign to extend executive clemency to those he described as “patriots” and “hostages” involved in the events of that day.
Speaking during a signing ceremony at the Oval Office, Trump expressed hope that those pardoned would be released promptly: “We hope they come out tonight.”
The executive order grants full and unconditional pardons to all individuals convicted of crimes related to the Capitol incidents. Notably, Enrique Tarrio, the former chairman of the Proud Boys, who was serving a 22-year sentence, is among those pardoned.
The White House announcement also included commutations for 14 individuals, notably Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers. Both men had been convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy, a rarely used federal charge.
Additionally, Trump directed the Justice Department to dismiss numerous pending cases associated with the Capitol attack, an action that effectively nullifies years of investigation by federal authorities.
Rhodes had been handed an 18-year sentence after being labeled by a judge as a persistent threat to national stability and democracy. The pardons extend to others convicted of violence against law enforcement officers during the January 6 siege, an event that resulted in injuries to over 140 police officers and disrupted the presidential transfer of power to Joe Biden.
Throughout the trial, the Justice Department presented extensive evidence, including thousands of messages exchanged by Rhodes and other Oath Keepers, revealing plans and discussions around the use of force.
Although Tarrio was absent on the day of the Capitol riots, prosecutors highlighted his indirect involvement through social media posts that encouraged the participants.
Undoing DOJ Investigation
These pardons essentially dismantle what was one of the Justice Department’s most intricate investigations. Federal authorities had utilized extensive resources, including video footage and phone data, to identify suspects involved in the Capitol events.
Judges at the Washington D.C. federal courthouse, who generally imposed sentences lighter than those sought by the DOJ, have expressed frustration. Judge Carl Nichols, appointed by Trump, remarked that such indiscriminate pardons would be “beyond frustrating and disappointing.”
Former Attorney General Merrick Garland had emphasized the importance of the investigation, noting the vast efforts involving thousands of subpoenas and terabytes of data reviewed across the country. Despite these efforts, the case against Trump, which alleged attempts to retain presidential power unlawfully, was ultimately dropped following his 2024 election victory due to DOJ policy against prosecuting sitting presidents.
Special counsel Jack Smith, who led the investigation, maintained confidence in the case they built, even as it was abandoned. He stated, “the government stands fully behind” its findings and actions.
—NPR’s Tom Dreisbach contributed to this report.
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