In a recent move, a Justice Department official announced that former U.S. President Donald Trump pardoned several of his allies, including Rudy Giuliani and Mark Meadows, who were accused of supporting efforts to overturn the 2020 election. This “full, complete, and unconditional” pardon, detailed in a signed proclamation, also included conservative lawyers and individuals involved in submitting false certificates. The pardons, explicitly excluding Trump himself, underscore his ongoing attempts to reinterpret the election results, a move that follows similar pardons for those charged in the January 6th riot. This action, described as a step towards “national reconciliation,” targeted individuals facing state charges, while Trump himself had an indictment abandoned due to his victory over Kamala Harris.
Read More
The former President, Donald Trump, pardoned members of his 2020 campaign legal team, including Rudy Giuliani, Kenneth Chesebro, and Sydney Powell, for their involvement in an attempt to alter election results. This announcement came late on Sunday, likely to be buried in the news cycle. These individuals were part of the “fake elector” scheme, aimed at overturning the election outcome in favor of Trump. Notably, the announcement pointedly indicated that Trump did not pardon himself.
Read More
John Banuelos, a supporter of Donald Trump who fired a gun at the U.S. Capitol during the January 6th attack, was arrested in October on charges of aggravated kidnapping and aggravated sexual assault in Illinois. He was previously identified as the individual who fired a weapon at the Capitol, and later fatally stabbed a man in Salt Lake City in July 2021, though he was not charged. Banuelos predicted in court that Donald Trump would be elected and pardon Jan. 6 rioters. The Justice Department moved to dismiss the case on January 21, 2025, after Trump took office.
Read More
Following the indictment, Smirnov revealed contact with high-ranking Russian officials, raising flight risk concerns. Despite a prior rejection, the DOJ’s initial attempt to release Smirnov pending appeal has sparked speculation about a potential pardon. Legal experts suggest this unusual move by the DOJ could indicate the Trump administration’s consideration of clemency. This is especially concerning given Smirnov’s alleged improper connections.
Read More
Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former Chief of Staff Cade Cothren have been granted pardons by President Donald Trump following their convictions on corruption charges. Both men were sentenced in September, with Casada facing 36 months in federal prison for charges including wire fraud and money laundering. The pardons relate to a case involving over $51,000 in state constituent mail payments funneled to Cothren through Phoenix Solutions, resulting in Casada and Cothren receiving over $35,000 in bribes. The pardons come after Casada confirmed he received a call from the president and a White House official stated that the men were over-prosecuted for a minor issue.
Read More
House Speaker Mike Johnson faced scrutiny over the apparent inconsistency between his criticism of President Biden’s pardons and former President Trump’s admission of not knowing the crypto billionaire he pardoned. Johnson had previously criticized Biden, accusing him of being unaware of his pardons, yet when confronted with Trump’s similar situation, he claimed ignorance of the interview. This exchange highlighted the contrast between Johnson’s stated standards for presidential pardons and Trump’s actions, especially concerning the pardon of Changpeng Zhao, who pleaded guilty to money laundering charges. Johnson’s response to the situation was similar to his previous responses when confronted about Trump’s other statements.
Read More
Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter accused of threatening US Democratic leader Jeffries, and honestly, the whole situation feels like a bad movie you’ve seen a hundred times. It’s that familiar feeling of watching someone you knew was trouble from the start, proving everyone right, once again. The news that a rioter, previously pardoned for their actions on January 6th, is now accused of making death threats against a prominent Democratic leader, Hakeem Jeffries, is, well, it’s not exactly shocking, is it? It’s more of a grim confirmation of the obvious.
This whole thing boils down to someone who seems to have faced zero consequences for their role in the January 6th insurrection continuing to act like, let’s be blunt, a bully and a dangerous individual.… Continue reading
Representative Seth Moulton’s suggestion that Donald Trump could demonstrate his commitment to ending political violence by rescinding the pardons he granted to individuals involved in the January 6th Capitol riot is a provocative one, sparking a lot of debate and reflection. The core of the argument is pretty straightforward: if Trump genuinely wants to quell political violence, then reversing actions that essentially condoned it would be a logical first step. This isn’t just about symbolism; it’s about sending a clear message that such behavior, especially when targeting political figures or institutions, will not be tolerated.
The issue quickly delves into the legality and the potential implications of such a move.… Continue reading
Already Pardoned by Trump, Jan. 6 Rioters Push for Compensation
It’s just unbelievable, isn’t it? After everything that happened on January 6th, after the damage, the violence, the blatant attack on our democracy, some of the people involved are now demanding compensation. And not just any compensation, but financial reparations, basically asking to be paid for their actions. It’s infuriating, especially considering that many of them were already pardoned by the former President. It’s like they’re trying to rewrite history, portraying themselves as victims, while in reality, they participated in a shameful assault on our nation.
The audacity is truly breathtaking.… Continue reading
Jared Wise, an ex-FBI agent who urged rioters to “kill” law enforcement during the January 6th Capitol attack, was pardoned by President Trump. Wise, facing charges related to the riots, is now employed as a senior advisor within the Department of Justice. This appointment follows Trump’s actions, including dismissing Wise’s case and issuing pardons for numerous January 6th participants. The administration has also taken steps to dismantle the work of prior investigators, raising concerns about the handling of the attack’s repercussions.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood