Trump Pardons January 6 Insurrection Convicts, Sparking Scuffle at DC Jail

In a significant move following his inauguration, President Donald Trump granted pardons to more than 1,500 individuals who had been convicted in connection with the January 6 insurrection at the US Capitol. This decision, made shortly after Trump was sworn in as the 47th president, resulted in a physical altercation outside a Washington DC prison where many of these inmates were held.

During his first day in office, Trump signed numerous executive orders addressing various issues, among them a directive that effectively pardoned all those convicted in relation to the Capitol incident. The pardons also extended to 14 members of radical groups, including the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, whose sentences were commuted to time served. While signing the documents, Trump described the pardoned individuals as “hostages,” reflecting his belief that they had been unjustly treated.

The news of the pardons ignited a scuffle outside the Central Detention Center in Washington, as news spread among families waiting to reunite with their loved ones and protesters opposing Trump's actions. Law enforcement had to intervene to control the situation, which was captured in videos shared across social media platforms. Some media accounts noted confusion regarding the timing of the crowd's agitation in relation to Trump's announcement.

Prominent among those pardoned was Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy. Additionally, Trump’s predecessor, Joe Biden, issued preemptive pardons for members of the House committee that investigated the January 6 attack out of concern for their potential persecution under the new administration.