Jan. 6 rioters to be released from DC jail after Trump pardons
WASHINGTON - A group of family members and friends of individuals imprisoned for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riot gathered outside the D.C. Central Detention Facility Monday awaiting the release of their loved ones.
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order pardoning many of the over 1,500 people charged in connection with the riot.
Trump’s pardon promises add complexity to DOJ’s January 6 prosecutions
Prosecutions of January 6 criminal defendants remain a priority for the Department of Justice nearly four years after the Capitol riot.
The group, which waited outside anxiously, included Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by Capitol Police during the riot.
Witthoeft has become a vocal advocate for the pardon, saying it would honor her daughter's memory and bring attention to what she described as an unfair justice system.
Over 1,500 charged, more than 650 sentenced
The backstory:
Since the January 6 riot, over 1,250 individuals have pleaded guilty or been convicted, with more than 650 receiving prison sentences ranging from a few days to 22 years. Many of the rioters had acted in response to Trump’s claims of election fraud, which were debunked by multiple courts and election officials.
Despite the convictions, supporters outside the jail argued that the sentences were unjust.
"If my daughter were alive, she would be out here advocating for them," Witthoeft said. She criticized the justice system, saying it pressured Americans into guilty pleas to claim victories and pointed to the broader need for prison reform.
Capitol Police, lawmakers oppose pardons
The other side:
Capitol Police officers, who suffered injuries defending the Capitol, strongly condemned the possibility of pardons. They argued it undermines the rule of law and disrespects their sacrifices on January 6.
Several House Democrats also voiced concerns, warning that pardoning those involved in the riot could have far-reaching implications for national security and the integrity of the justice system.
Will the Jan. 6 rioters be released from prison immediately?
The presidential pardon should lead to the immediate release of those incarcerated. According to one jail employee, the process of releasing individuals following a pardon typically takes several days and is not instantaneous.
Despite the uncertainty, the families and friends outside the detention facility held onto hope. They waited to see if their loved ones would walk out of the jail’s doors, marking what they described as a significant victory for justice and reform.
Advocating for prison reform
Witthoeft also used the moment to call for broader prison reform, saying, "This justice system takes such victory in guilty pleas… Through this process, we’ve learned how unfair the Bureau of Prisons is to all Americans, not just Jan. Sixers."