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Amy Sherman
By Amy Sherman January 20, 2025

Trump pardons people convicted of Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot offenses

President Donald Trump in 2022 promised "full pardons" for the people convicted of crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, storming of the U.S. Capitol on his behalf.

On his first day in office, Trump delivered on that promise.

"So, this is Jan. 6, these are the hostages, approximately 1,500 were pardoned. Full pardon," Trump said the night of Jan. 20 while signing a related proclamation in the Oval Office. "You have about six commutations in there but we are doing further research. This is a big one. We hope they come out tonight."

A proclamation on the White House website said that Trump commuted the sentence of 14 defendants and that his proclamation would "grant a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021." The proclamation did not specify how many people he pardoned.

Trump's proclamation said this "ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation."

The proclamation said the attorney general shall issue certificates of pardon and release them from prison immediately.

Presidents have broad powers to pardon and commute sentences.

A pardon and commutation of sentence are different forms of executive clemency. A pardon expresses the president's forgiveness and removes civil disabilities, such as restrictions on the right to vote, hold office or sit on a jury. A commutation of sentence reduces a sentence, fully or partially, but does not erase the conviction.

About 1,583 defendants have been federally charged with crimes associated with the attack on the U.S. Capitol, according to a Jan. 6, 2025, Justice Department update. That included 682 who had pleaded guilty to misdemeanors such as trespassing or disorderly conduct.

The lawyer for Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former national chairman of the Proud Boys, a far-right group, told The Washington Post and The New York Times on Jan. 20 that Tarrio was being released that night. Tarrio's name was not listed among the people whose sentence was commuted.

In May 2023 a jury found Tarrio, of Miami, guilty of seditious conspiracy and other felony charges and he was later sentenced to 22 years in prison. Seditious conspiracy is if two or more people conspire to overthrow the federal government. 

The Justice Department said that before Jan. 6, 2021, Tarrio created a chapter of the Proud Boys known as the "Ministry of Self Defense," which included co-defendants who conspired to prevent the certification of the Electoral College vote and to oppose by force the authority of the federal government.

Trump commuted the sentence of Stewart Rhodes, who founded the Oath Keepers militia group that was also involved in the Capitol riot. Rhodes faced an 18-year sentence following conviction of charges including seditious conspiracy. Trump also pardoned the leader of the Florida Oath Keepers group, Kelly Meggs, was who serving 12 years.

Trump issued a proclamation pardoning and commuting the sentences of people convicted for crimes related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riots. We rate this Promise Kept.

RELATED: 'Everything we trained for': How the far-right Oath Keepers militia planned for violence on Jan. 6

RELATED: PolitiFact kicks off the MAGA-Meter to track Donald Trump's promises

Our Sources

U.S. Attorney's Office, 48 Months Since the Jan. 6 Attack on U.S. Capitol, Jan. 6, 2025

Office of the Pardon Attorney, Frequently Asked Questions, Aug. 18, 2024

Justice Department, Proud Boys Leader Sentenced to 22 Years in Prison for Seditious Conspiracy and Other Charges Related to U.S. Capitol Breach, Sept. 5, 2023

NPR, The Trump campaign embraces Jan. 6 rioters with money and pardon promises, Jan. 4, 2024

Washington Post, Proud Boys' leader Tarrio being released from prison in sedition case, Jan. 20, 2025

New York Times, Live Updates: Trump Signs Executive Orders, Jan. 20, 2025

Donald Trump, Truth Social post, March 11, 2024

Acyn, Clip of President Trump signing pardons, Jan. 20, 2025

President Donald Trump, Presidential actions, Jan. 20, 2025

White House.gov, Presidential actions about Jan. 6, Jan. 20, 2025

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