> At a Glance
> – President Trump has pardoned every Jan 6 rioter and fired the DOJ-FBI teams that prosecuted them
> – A White House site now calls the 2021 Capitol breach “peaceful” and blames police for escalation
> – Nearly $5 million already paid to the family of rioter Ashli Babbitt; a broader compensation fund is under review
> – Why it matters: The administration is actively reshaping the accepted facts of the attack and rewarding its participants
Five years after the Jan 6 Capitol siege, the sitting president is using the powers of his office to recast the day’s events and compensate its participants.
Mass Pardons and Purges
On his first day back, Trump signed a blanket pardon covering every person charged in connection with the riot. The Justice Department and FBI agents who built the cases-more than 1,000 prosecutions-were promptly dismissed.
A former Jan 6 prosecutor, speaking anonymously, said the move feels “maddening.”
> “I spoke with dozens of people who are still dealing with the trauma. You know what happened that day, yet the chief executive is nodding along to a new narrative.”
The White House launched a commemorative web page that:
- Labels the protesters “peaceful”
- Claims police escalated tensions
- States “Stolen Election Certified” in its timeline
Cash for Rioters
The administration has already:
- Paid $4.9 million to Ashli Babbitt’s family
- Begun drafting a federally funded compensation program for other defendants
Attorney Barry Silbermann says he is filing claims under the Federal Tort Claims Act for clients who “had their lives unilaterally destroyed.”
Trump, citing his own legal bills from special counsel Jack Smith’s probe, says he is seeking “a lot of money” from the federal government and would donate any award to charity.
Political Fallout
Support for Jan 6 defendants has shifted inside the GOP:
- Sen. Ted Cruz once called it a “terrorist attack”; he now says that comment was “frankly dumb”
- Speaker Mike Johnson’s office shelved plans for a plaque honoring injured officers
- Several Republican senators threaten to sue after learning their phone records were seized during the Smith investigation
Democrats convened a Jan 6 anniversary round-table. Rep. Bennie Thompson said:
> “Democracy depends on the courage of those who will defend it and on our willingness to hold accountable those who wish to destroy it.”
Where the Cases Stand
- 1,000-plus defendants originally charged
- Five-year statute of limitations expiring for most crimes
- Some pardoned rioters now hold government roles; others face new charges or struggle to find work
Cosmetologist Gina Bisignano, pardoned after pleading guilty, still can’t resume her teaching platform. Troy Smocks, convicted of threatening lawmakers, wants prosecutors prosecuted.
Key Takeaways
- Trump has erased convictions and is paying millions to Jan 6 participants
- A new White House narrative claims police, not rioters, caused the violence
- Former prosecutors warn the historical record is being rewritten for political convenience
- The move is cheered by many Republicans and condemned by Democrats defending the original investigation
The administration’s next step is a forthcoming Justice Department report on the “weaponization” of the Jan 6 probe-staffed in part by ex-defendants now inside the building they once stormed.
