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Trump’s possible pardons for January 6 defendants raise hopes and concerns

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Trump’s possible pardons for January 6 defendants raise hopes and concerns

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WASHINGTON – Since then President-elect Donald Trump‘s election victory, his past vows to pardon the accused from The Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, It has fueled an influx of people seeking to delay their cases, prompting a Trump-appointed judge to call the prospect “frustrating and beyond disappointing.”

More than 1500 people were sued for rebellion and More than 1,000 were convicted The attack by Trump supporters injured 140 police officers and temporarily halted Congress from counting the Electoral College votes confirming President Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory. A. Penalty list of the Ministry of Justice 120 pages were published on cases up to 7 October.

The longest sentences were for seditious conspiracy. Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, a far-right street gang there are 22 years. Stewart Rhodes is the leader of the Oath Keepers group with a background in law enforcement. there are 18 years. Rhodes’ ex-wife Tasha Adams he told USA TODAY She was afraid he would kill her if he was released from prison.

Trump’s federal charges of conspiracy and obstruction of Congress are about to be dropped after his election, under Justice Department policy barring prosecution of a sitting president. Trump called the rioters “patriots” and said he was “inclined to pardon many of them.”

Amid a growing number of defendants seeking delays in their cases, Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols expressed frustration with the prospect of a “blanket amnesty.”

“A blanket amnesty for all defendants on January 6, or any defendants close to that, would be frustrating and beyond disappointing, but that’s not my decision,” Nichols said Tuesday, while adjourning the hearing to May 13, according to a transcript. Edward Jacob Lang New Yorker accused of attacking police defending the Capitol. “And the possibility of at least some amnesty is very real.”

Here’s what we know about the potential for amnesty in January 6 cases:

Trump promises to pardon January 6 defendants

Trump has repeatedly talked about the potential for pardons over the years.

In September 2022, Trump told Pittsburgh broadcaster Wendy Bell that he would issue full pardons and perhaps apologize to anyone who participated in the protests on January 6. “We will take full amnesties very, very seriously because we cannot allow that.” It happens,” Trump said. “An apology to many. They were treated very badly.”

In March 2023, He posted a message in all capital letters on social media.: “JANUARY 6, RELEASE THE PRISONERS.”

“I tend to forgive most of them” Trump told CNN in May 2023. “I can’t say about every one of them because a few of them probably got out of control.”

In April 2024, Trump told Time magazine that he would “absolutely” consider pardoning every defendant in the January 6 shooting incident.

Karoline Leavitt, whom Trump chose as the White House spokeswoman, made a statement saying that she would “make pardon decisions on a case-by-case basis.”

Defendants ask judges for delay in cases while awaiting pardons

Some defendants had requested that their cases be postponed, waiting for Trump’s pardon.

Attorneys for Christopher Carnell of Cary, North Carolina Found guilty of obstructing CongressHe may have been the first to ask for a pause on November 6, the day after Trump’s election victory, arguing that he “expects to avoid the criminal prosecution he currently faces when the new administration takes office.”

U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell denied the request the same day and set the sentence on December 13.

Carnell, who was 18 when he entered the Capitol, was found guilty of five misdemeanors, including disorderly conduct, as he walked into the Senate chamber, where he was shuffling through documents on Sen. Ted Cruz’s desk. Howell later expunged his felony obstruction conviction. Supreme Court decision changed the interpretation of the law.

Lawyers for Brandon Heffner of Harford County, Maryland, asked for a stay in the case on Nov. 7, citing Trump’s pardon vow. Heffner charged with disturbing civil order and disorderly conduct It was claimed that he, wearing a black helmet and tactical vest, closed the door to allow the police to leave the building.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta denied the request on November 11. “The defendant’s speculation that he may receive a pardon is not a good reason to pursue this matter,” Mehta wrote.

Zachary Alam, of Centreville, Virginia, was convicted of assaulting officers, destruction of government property and disorderly conduct. To enter the Capitol, he jumped through a broken window and broke the glass windows of the doors leading to the House Speakers’ Lobby.

Alam said he asked for clemency at his sentencing on Nov. 7, but U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich sentenced him to eight years in prison.

Attorneys for Terry Allen, 65, of Spring Hills, Pennsylvania Found guilty of attacking police with a wooden flagpole, He asked for his sentence to be postponed from 8 November Arguing that history shows Trump “is not shy about using his pardon powers.”

Prosecutors opposed the request because of “speculation and conjecture” for clemency.

Mehta denied that request on November 12 and sentenced him to two years in prison two days later. Allen plans to appeal.

William Alexander Pope charged with disrupting civil order and obstructing Congress The video then showed him walking through Statuary Hall and being restrained by Capitol Police officers. represents itself and He submitted a motion on November 9 Following the decision to postpone the trial, it was postponed to December 2 because “the American people, by electing President Trump, resoundingly rejected these cases and pardoned the defendants on January 6.”

But prosecutors opposed that request, saying the case had been pending for nearly four years.

“There is a public interest in the prompt and effective administration of justice,” prosecutors wrote. “At this time, the defendant’s expectation of clemency is mere speculation and the Court should proceed as it does in other cases.”

U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras scheduled a hearing for Dec. 13 to discuss the new trial date.

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