Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons spark several surprises
by Ella Lee - 04/13/25 6:00 AM ET
President Trump’s sweeping clemency for Jan. 6 defendants have taken a number of surprising twists and turns nearly three months after the Capitol attack prosecution was abruptly upended.
On his first day back in the White House, Trump made good on his campaign pledge to absolve those who stormed the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, granting full pardons to more than 1,500 rioters and commuting the sentences of extremist group leaders accused of spearheading the attack.
Since then, the president’s order has spurred a series of unforeseen ramifications, including a backlash by some defendants against Attorney General Pam Bondi and other Trump administration officials, pushback from judges and calls for money to be returned for some of those convicted on rioting charges.
In court filings this week, the Justice Department (DOJ) suggested that some Jan. 6 defendants might be entitled to a refund of the restitution they paid for Capitol repairs.
The Capitol riot inflicted an estimated $3 million in damage to the building. Rioters have typically been ordered to pay $500 if found guilty of a misdemeanor or $2,000 if convicted of a felony to the Architect of the Capitol to recompense for the damage.
more
https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/5245516-trump-clemency-jan-6-rioters/
