A Lawfare Institute study found that 97 of the more than 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by President Trump have faced additional criminal charges [1, 2].
This data suggests that a subset of individuals who received presidential clemency for their roles in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot have since been accused of serious new offenses. The findings raise questions about the impact of these pardons on public safety and the behavior of those granted legal relief.
The research examined post-pardon criminal activity to determine if recipients reoffended [1]. According to the study, the new charges brought against these individuals include stalking, assaults, and sex crimes [1].
One specific case highlighted in reports involves Andrew Paul Johnson, who was arrested on child molestation charges involving two minors [3]. Johnson was among those who received a pardon for crimes related to the events at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 [3].
While some reports initially described the pardons as affecting hundreds of rioters, other data indicates that more than 1,500 people charged in the Capitol riot were pardoned [2]. The Lawfare study identifies the 97 individuals who subsequently appeared in criminal filings for unrelated crimes [1].
The study authors, including reporting from Ken Dilanian for MSNBC, analyzed these records to assess the recidivism rate among the pardoned group [1]. The findings contrast the intended effect of clemency with the subsequent legal troubles of these specific recipients [1].
“97 of the more than 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by President Trump have faced additional criminal charges”
The identification of nearly 100 pardoned individuals facing new, violent, or predatory charges provides a data point for critics of the broad use of presidential clemency. It shifts the conversation from the political nature of the Jan. 6 pardons to the practical implications of releasing individuals who may pose a continued risk to the public.
