Almost 1,600 January 6th rioters were pardoned by President Trump on his first day in office, January 20th, 2025. President Trump has faced backlash since with many of these rioters getting in trouble with the law the few days they’ve been free as well as having substantial criminal records. Numerous citizens and politicians disagree with the decision after the destruction caused by the insurrection.
The January 6th Insurrection on the Capital injured 140 law enforcement officers, caused $2.9 million in damage, and led to five deaths. The riot interrupted the peaceful transfer of power between President Trump and Former President Biden, and endangered the members of Congress.
Being pardoned means that these people have been given forgiveness by the president who pardoned them and will no longer face “civil disabilities,” according to the Department of Justice. Pardons allow them to now vote, hold office, and sit on a jury.
Trump reasoned that trialing over 1,500 people for their behavior on January 6th would have been too difficult, as each requires a separate investigation.
“It would be very, very cumbersome to go and look – you know how many people we’re talking about? 1,500 people,” Trump said in an interview with Fox News.
Several of the people pardoned have already committed more crimes.
One pardoned rioter, Matthew Huttle, was shot and killed by police after resisting arrest, on January 26th. He had previously spent 6 months in prison and was pulled over in his car where police found a firearm. The police have not indicated why the 42 year old Indiana man was arrested in the first place, according to the Washington Post. However, Huttle has a substantial criminal record, including being physically abusive to his 3 year old child.
Rioters can still be persecuted for other crimes, however they have been let out of prison.
Theodore Middendorf, another rioter pardoned by Trump, pleaded guilty to sexual assault to a 7 year old in 2024. He faced 19 years in prison and was also guilty of striking a U.S. Capital window with a flag poll on the January 6th insurrection, but was released from prison due to his pardon. Middendorf has 38 convictions all before January 6th, including domestic assault and terroristic threats.
Other cases of those pardoned include, but are lot limited to, child pornography, battery on law enforcement officer, possession of firearm by convicted felon, rape, possession of a controlled substance, drug trafficing, and domestic abuse. Not to mention using a metal whip and bear spray to attack police officers.
These are the types of people who were pardoned by the President of The United States of America: abusers, rapists, and felons.
