One said he hopes judges and prosecutors who oversaw his case are jailed.
On the first day of his second term, President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people charged with or convicted of crimes tied to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, including over 600 convicted of assaulting or interfering with police. Trump called the defendants “hostages.”
On the fifth anniversary of the attack, some rioters returned to the Capitol, including Jacob Lang, who said he hoped judges and prosecutors would be jailed.
At least 15 Jan. 6 prosecutors were fired after Trump took office; others, including Brendan Ballou, resigned. Ballou warned the pardons send a message that violence in Trump’s name carries no consequences.
The nonprofit CREW reports at least 33 pardoned rioters later faced new charges. Two rioters declined pardons, including Pamela Hemphill, who apologized to Capitol Police.