Lawyers Prepare Lawsuit Against Federal Government on Behalf of Trump-Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters

A legal team is taking steps to file a lawsuit against the U.S. federal government on behalf of individuals pardoned by former President Donald Trump who were involved in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol. The lawsuit alleges that those implicated in the events were treated unfairly by government institutions, particularly by the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Prisons.

Among the attorneys involved in the legal action are Mark McCloskey and Peter Ticktin. McCloskey gained national attention five years ago when he brandished an AR-15-type firearm at demonstrators protesting near his home in St. Louis. Ticktin is a lawyer who has known Trump since their school days and has remained a longtime supporter of the former president.

Prior to Trump's sweeping act of clemency, nearly 1,600 individuals were prosecuted in connection with the January 6 incident. The pardons have strengthened the resolve of these formerly prosecuted individuals, maintaining they were wrongly portrayed as perpetrators when they were, in their view, victims of the event.

Nevertheless, attempting to hold the government accountable faces notable legal skepticism and considerable procedural hurdles. Interestingly, the lawsuit might find some unintended help from within the government, which could potentially assist the plaintiffs in overcoming some of these challenges.