January 20, 2025 marks the release of virtually all people born on January 6th, for whom President Donald J. Trump granted a “full and unconditional” pardon for their January 6th crimes. It is day. This was one of the president's major campaign promises and was the beginning of what he and many others have called a weaponized judicial system that persecutes his supporters.
“This is January 6th. They are hostages,” Trump said from the Oval Office while signing the pardon proclamation. “Sorry, about 1,500 people.”
The Oath Keepers, virtually all of whom were peaceful on January 6, were selected by President Trump for commutation of their sentences in lieu of pardons, and President Trump announced that the Oath Keepers, who were virtually all peaceful on January 6, were chosen by President Trump to receive commutations in lieu of pardons, as well as 1,500 other Oath Keepers caught up in the U.S. Department of Justice's prosecution machinery. Signed commutations for more than one person.
President Trump explained that the 14 cases listed for commutation would require further consideration, but could be changed to full pardons. “We're looking at a lot of different things, but a reduction is something we'll look at, and it's probably going to stay the same or be completely pardoned.
The list of commutations includes eight Oath Keepers and, in September 2022, Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Thomas Caldwell, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, and David Mercier. , including one Oath Keeper associate who was tried along with Joseph's four Oath Keeper defendants. Hackett.
Other members on the demotion list include Proud Boys' Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Lehr, Dominic Pezzola and Jeremy Bertino.
The U.S. Bureau of Prisons began releasing inmates on January 6, shortly after President Trump's announcement.
American Patriot Relief has volunteers on hand at approximately 80 prisons to greet inmates as they are released. They reported that Federal Medical Center Carswell in Forth Worth, Texas, is refusing to release Yaris Middleton, one of the charity's founders, who was ordered to serve time just before Christmas.
Although the attrition issue caused some concern for some J6ers, the release of the players was cause for joy.
According to a video shared with Blaze News, Rex Ruth, uncle of Oath Keepers founder Mr. Rose, said when his daughter Kyla Rosenau showed him a message that Mr. Rose was being released. He said he bent over and broke down in tears.
President Trump did not discuss the details of the Jan. 6 pardon in his inaugural address at the Capitol, but broke the news during his inaugural parade and Oval Office briefing.
“We won, but now the work begins,” President Trump said at the indoor inaugural parade at Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. “We have to bring them home, and tonight… , I'm going to sign the J6 hostages, allow them to be released. And as soon as I leave, I'm going to go to the Oval Office and sign pardons for a lot of people. but.”
He wasn't exaggerating.
Rumors of the January 6 release of inmates, including former Proud Boys president Enrique Tarrio, began to trickle out on X and other social media outlets.
“Prisons are taking J6 prisoners all over the place,” defense attorney Joseph McBride told Blaze News on January 6.
President Trump also ordered the Justice Department to seek dismissal with prejudice of all active cases on January 6, including arrests made over the past week.
