110 Jan. 6 Defendants From CA Pardoned In Trump’s First Official Act

CALIFORNIA — In a blizzard of executive actions after arriving at the White House Monday, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump first pardoned more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including 110 from California.

Trump also commuted the sentences of another 14 people, including leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. These were convicted some of the most serious and high-profile crimes of the insurrection.

The decision amounted to a sweeping cloak of impunity for Trump supporters who upended the country’s tradition of peaceful transfers of power by trying to overturn his election defeat four years ago. Trump described them as “hostages” and said he expected them to be freed shortly.

Among them are 66 rioters from California who pleaded guilty are notable figures such as "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy," "Better Call Saul, and "Bob's Burgers"actor Jay Johnston, who, along with a mob, pursued officers into a tunnel that leads into the Capitol, bushing against them with a stolen police riot shield.

The 16 people convicted at trial in California include:

• Edward Badalian from Los Angeles was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds.
• Glenn Allen Brooks from Huntington Beach was found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
• Jeffrey Scott Brown from Irvine was found guilty of several charges including civil disorder; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon and aiding and abetting; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building for grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
• Eric Christie from Sherman Oaks was found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon; disorderly or disruptive conduct in restricted building or grounds with a deadly weapon.
• Victor Sean Dennison from California was found guilty of entering and remaining in a
  restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building; failure to appear.
• Erik Herrera from San Diego was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
• Alan Hostetter from San Clemente was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon.
• Derek Kinnison from Lake Elsinore was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; tampering with documents or proceedings.
• Danean Kimberly MacAndrew from Mission Viejo was found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
• Benjamin J. Martin from Fresno was found guilty of civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
• Felipe Antonio Martinez from Lake Elsinore was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
• Sean Michael McHugh from Auburn was found guilty of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; obstruction of an official proceeding.
• Ronald Mele from Temecula was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds.
• John Herbert Strand from Beverly Hills was found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.
• Erik Scott Warner from Menifee was found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting; entering and remaining in a restricted building and grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; tampering with documents or proceedings.
• Patrick Woehl from Citrus Heights was found guilty of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a capitol building or grounds; parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building.

Those pardoned included former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in prison — the longest term of imprisonment among all of those charged with the Jan. 6 attack — on a conviction of seditious conspiracy.

Stewart Rhodes, the former leader of the Oath Keepers militia, who had received the second-longest sentence — 18 years — on his seditious conspiracy conviction was released from a Cumberland, Maryland, federal prison early Tuesday morning.

Trump also ordered the attorney general to seek the dismissal of roughly 450 cases that are pending before judges stemming from the largest investigation in Justice Department history.

Trump has claimed they were unfairly treated by the Justice Department, which also charged him with federal crimes in two cases he contends were politically motivated. Trump said the pardons will end “a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years” and begin “a process of national reconciliation.”

The pardons were met with elation from Trump supporters and lawyers for the Jan. 6 defendants. Trump supporters gathered late Monday in the cold outside the Washington jail, where more than a dozen defendants were being held before the pardons.

“We are deeply thankful for President Trump for his actions today,” said James Lee Bright, an attorney who represented Rhodes.

“This marks a pivotal moment in our client’s life, and it symbolizes a turning point for our nation,” Tarrio attorney Nayib Hassan said in a statement. “We are optimistic for the future, as we now turn the page on this chapter, embracing new possibilities and opportunities.””

Democrats slammed the move to extend the pardons to violent rioters, many of whose crimes were captured on camera and broadcast on live TV.

Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called it “an outrageous insult to our justice system and the heroes who suffered physical scars and emotional trauma as they protected the Capitol, the Congress and the Constitution.”

“Donald Trump is ushering in a Golden Age for people that break the law and attempt to overthrow the government," Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said in an emailed statement.

Former Metropolitan Police Officer Michael Fanone, who lost consciousness and suffered a heart attack after a rioter shocked him with a stun gun, appeared taken aback to learn from an Associated Press reporter that those who assaulted police officers are among the pardon recipients.

“This is what the American people voted for,” he said. “How do you react to something like that?”

Fanone said he has spent the past four years worried about his safety and the well-being of his family. Pardoning his assailants only compounds his fears, he said.

“I think they’re cowards,” he said. “Their strength was in their numbers and the mob mentality. And as individuals, they are who they are.”

The Associated Press contributed reporting.