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Capitol insurrectionists hoping for pardons
President Biden just earned the record for the most pardons in a single day, and many are wondering whether President-elect Donald Trump will continue the trend.
ORLANDO, Fla. - Hundreds of people are walking free today who couldn’t claim that same privilege yesterday.
President Biden just earned the record for the most pardons in a single day, and many are wondering whether President-elect Donald Trump will continue the trend.
In an interview just published with Trump, he said he does plan to issue pardons for people convicted of committing non-violent offenses on January 6.
"There's a widespread belief among members of the J6 community that he's going to pardon everyone," said attorney Norm Pattis, who represents Proud Boys members Joe Biggs, Dominic Pezzola, and Zachary Rehl. "I'm just not hearing it."
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His clients were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their role in the January 6 insurrection. Pattis said he’s hopeful his clients will be pardoned, but he's not convinced it will definitely happen.
"If you come out and say, ‘Don't get your hopes up,’ you sound like a naysayer. If you say, ‘Go team’ and January 21st comes around and these guys are still on and everybody else is out, you know, you've got some explaining to do," Pattis said. "So it's a very apprehensive time."
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Why Trump's J6 pardons may not cover some FL prisoners
FOX 35's Marie Edinger joined FOX 35 News+ to talk about the process for clemency for defendants convicted in cases related to the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol. She spoke to an attorney representing several Florida defendants, who says he is hopeful but not positive that President-Elect Trump's avowed pardons would include his clients.
Seditious conspiracy is a serious charge, right up there with treason, Pattis said.
"In this case, that meant they agreed – according to the jury's verdict – to use force against the authority of the United States. Is that violence or is it not? Depends on who's reading it."
Pardons, by the way, make things as though the crime was never committed – you walk away with a clean record. Commuting a sentence means the crime is still on your record, but you don’t have to serve any more time.
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For Pattis’ clients, commutation won’t do. He said they need to be pardoned, so they can regain the military pensions they lost when they were convicted.
"My message to Donald Trump is as follows," said Pattis. "This is not a time to stand back and stand by. It's a time to stand up and do the right thing."
If the Proud Boys’ sentences aren’t commuted or pardoned, their cases will go to appeal.
That filing is due in May 2025.
The Source: Information for this article comes from filings with the U.S. Department of Justice and attorney Norm Pattis, of Pattis & Associates, LLC Law Firm.