Judge Reverses Decision on Capitol Riot Defendants
In a recent development, two individuals involved in the January 6 Capitol riot have received clemency and can now seek reimbursement following a change of heart by a prominent judge.
U.S. District Judge James Boasberg issued a ruling on Wednesday that allows Christopher Price and his wife, Cynthia Ballenger, to recover the $570 each paid after their conviction. This change contrasts with Judge Boasberg’s earlier decision in July, when he had ruled against the couple.
In a letter, Boasberg noted, “The court denied the motion, and the defendants are now asking the court to reconsider. After considering the issue again, the court agrees with the defendants. If the conviction is vacated, the government must repay the payments forced on account of the conviction,” referring to 12 pages of notes.
President Trump, alongside Republican allies, previously called for Boasberg’s impeachment for opposing the administration’s immigration policies and for allowing the Special Investigations Office to obtain phone records from Republican senators.
Trump labeled Boasberg as a “radical left-wing lunatic.”
Price and Ballenger were among roughly 1,600 people pardoned by Trump for their roles in the Capitol incident. They reportedly entered the Capitol through the Senate carriage door.
Price, after entering the building and seeing broken glass, allegedly sent a message to a friend saying, “Trump is worth fighting for.” When questioned by investigators about his entry into the Capitol, Price responded with “hypothetically,” according to court documents.
Boasberg clarified that Trump’s pardon alone wouldn’t automatically justify restitution for former defendants.
He noted that since their cases were under the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit when Trump granted the pardon, it effectively invalidated their convictions.
“Even if a defendant’s pardon does not entitle him to restitution, it may result in restitution of his conviction,” Boasberg explained.
There has been ongoing tension between Boasberg and Trump’s team, especially regarding a 17th-century law aimed at quickly targeting suspected gangsters for extradition to El Salvador’s prisons.
Some Republican lawmakers have suggested impeachment articles against Boasberg, blaming him for overstepping executive authority, particularly in the Arctic Frost investigation related to efforts to contest the 2020 election.
