January 6 rioters are optimistic about potential pardons from Trump, seeing it as a chance to rebuild their lives.
Washington DC: So, there’s this guy named Brandon Fellows. He was one of those folks who stormed the Capitol on January 6. He even lit up a joint in a senator’s office! Now, he’s out of jail after serving three years and is hanging around the DC jail, dreaming about how Trump might help him get back on his feet.
Brandon’s on probation now, which means he can’t leave DC to start a new chimney business in New Jersey. But with Trump back in the White House, he’s feeling hopeful. He thinks things are about to change for him.
He’s got this plan to wait until after the election to see what happens. If Trump wins, he’s ready to rebuild his life. “With Trump in office, I’m starting to plan again,” he said. It’s like he’s got this whole new outlook.
Trump has promised that once he’s back in power, he’ll pardon folks who were prosecuted for the Capitol riot. That day was a wild one, with a mob of Trump supporters causing chaos after he spoke to them. It was a serious moment in history, and it led to a lot of people getting hurt.
Trump’s been vocal about wanting to look at each case quickly once he’s in office. He believes many of these people shouldn’t be in jail and have suffered enough. It’s a big deal, especially after the last four years of Biden’s administration trying to hold those rioters accountable.
For over two years, families of those charged have been gathering outside the jail for a vigil called “Freedom Corner.” They see January 6 not as an attack but as a moment of unfair government action. It’s kind of a rallying point for them.
Last week, a few activists showed up for the vigil, and they were all about the hope that Trump would soon help them out. One guy, Jonathan Pollock, who’s been locked up for attacking police, called in and expressed his excitement about the possibility of getting justice.
Another guy, Gregory Purdy, who was convicted for his role in the riot, said they’re not just excited about the pardons but also about feeling like they have their country back. It’s a mix of emotions for these folks.
James Grant, who got in trouble for assaulting officers, shared how his conviction is holding him back from going back to law school. He’s worried about what might happen if Trump doesn’t keep his promise. It’s a tense situation for many of them.
Despite the excitement, a recent poll showed that a lot of people aren’t on board with Trump pardoning these rioters. He’s also hinted that he might skip over those who were violent, saying he’ll look at each case individually.
Democratic representative Jamie Raskin, who was part of the investigation into the Capitol attack, warned that if Trump pardons these individuals and they act out again, it could come back to haunt him.
Brandon, standing outside the jail in his MAGA cap, feels pretty confident he’ll get a pardon since he considers himself non-violent. If not, he’s hoping for a lighter sentence down the line. There’s been some legal changes that might help him out.
Nicole Reffitt, who’s been organizing the vigil, hopes Trump’s pardons will lead to more favorable court decisions for others in similar situations. She just doesn’t want anyone else to go through what they have.
