The Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) has urged the Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General and the Archivist of the United States to investigate the DOJ’s removal of its January 6th database, which detailed Capitol attack prosecutions. CREW alleges this action violates 44 U.S.C. § 3106, requiring notification to the Archivist of record destruction. The database’s removal, seemingly connected to President Trump’s pardons, has been celebrated by some January 6th defendants but criticized as an attempt to erase evidence. CREW argues the database is a federal record whose deletion requires reporting, which the DOJ seemingly failed to do.
Read More
Over the weekend, the Department of Justice removed all information regarding the January 6th Capitol riot from its website. This action followed President Trump’s pardon of those involved in the riot and aligns with a broader trend of the administration removing content related to controversial issues. The removal includes a database of over 1,200 Capitol breach cases, eliminating access to individual case files and related information. While some press releases remain, the database itself is inaccessible, leaving the reasons behind this action unconfirmed by the Department of Justice.
Read More
Andrew Taake, a January 6th Capitol attacker pardoned by Donald Trump, faces an outstanding charge of soliciting a minor. Trump’s blanket pardon for those involved in the Capitol riot freed Taake from a federal prison sentence for assaulting police. However, a pre-existing state-level charge of soliciting a minor remains unresolved, making Taake a fugitive from Houston authorities. This situation highlights the ongoing controversy surrounding Trump’s pardons and their impact on justice for victims and law enforcement.
Read More
All Senate Democrats co-sponsored a resolution disapproving of President Trump’s pardons for January 6th rioters who assaulted Capitol Police officers. While symbolic and lacking practical effect, the resolution condemns Trump’s action, which pardoned numerous individuals convicted of such crimes, excluding only those charged with seditious conspiracy who received commuted sentences. Republican support for the resolution was absent, with some voicing disapproval of the pardons while others, such as Vice President Vance, defended Trump’s decision. The resolution highlights the partisan divide surrounding Trump’s clemency and the ongoing debate about the January 6th events.
Read More
Jason Riddle, a participant in the January 6th Capitol riot, rejected President Trump’s pardon. Riddle, who served 90 days for stealing a bottle of wine and a book, initially participated believing it was a Trump rally but later realized the severity of his actions after witnessing the shooting of Ashli Babbitt. His experience in prison, and Trump’s later request for protests, led Riddle to abandon his support for the former president. He rejected the pardon to avoid potential future employment issues and to acknowledge the gravity of his actions and their impact on others, particularly Capitol Police officers.
Read More
Following President Trump’s attempt to revise the narrative surrounding the January 6th Capitol attack, a Department of Justice database detailing the extensive criminal charges and convictions related to the event was removed from its website. This searchable database, cataloging the largest criminal investigation in modern DOJ history, disappeared concurrently with Trump’s pardons and efforts to dismiss cases. The removal, celebrated by those convicted, coincided with the silencing of related FBI information, including a “Most Wanted” list of Capitol rioters. While some information remains accessible through alternative sources like court records and press releases, thousands of pages from the database are now unavailable. The timing suggests a deliberate effort to obscure the scale of the January 6th attacks.
Read More
President Trump’s pardons of nearly 1,500 individuals involved in the January 6th insurrection, including those convicted of assaulting police officers, send a dangerous message. This act of clemency signals that there are no consequences for violent acts against the government, undermining the sacrifices of law enforcement and emboldening insurrectionists. Furthermore, statements from pardoned individuals suggest a desire for revenge and continued action. This pardon isn’t an end, but a potential catalyst for further unrest.
Read More
Jason Riddle, convicted for his participation in the January 6th Capitol riot, has rejected a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. His sobriety, achieved since his 90-day jail sentence, fundamentally altered his perspective on Trump and the events of that day. Riddle now views his actions with remorse and rejects the pardon, fearing it would minimize the seriousness of his crime and negatively impact his future. He also expressed concern for the Capitol Police officers affected by the riot and the implications of pardoning those involved.
Read More
Trump’s pardon of two Washington D.C. police officers convicted in the death of a Black man, Karon Hylton-Brown, has ignited a firestorm of controversy. The decision, announced seemingly without much fanfare, raises serious questions about justice, accountability, and the ongoing struggle for racial equality in America.
The pardon itself is a stark reminder of the power vested in the presidency, especially concerning the ability to overturn criminal convictions. This power, while constitutionally granted, has historically been wielded with caution, often reserved for cases of significant extenuating circumstances or demonstrable flaws in the legal process. In this instance, the lack of transparency surrounding the pardon and the apparent lack of such justification fuels widespread public outrage.… Continue reading
President Trump pardoned David Dempsey, a January 6th rioter sentenced to 20 years for violently assaulting police officers, including stomping on their heads. This pardon, among others for those convicted of violent crimes during the riot, is drawing significant criticism. Prosecutors described Dempsey’s actions as exceptionally brutal, highlighting his use of various weapons against law enforcement. The pardons fulfill a campaign promise but are condemned by some lawmakers as undermining justice and ignoring the severe consequences of the Capitol attack.
Read More
John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood