16 Jan. 6 Defendants From LI Pardoned In Trump’s First Official Act

LONG ISLAND, NY — In the first in a blizzard of executive actions after arriving at the White House Monday, newly inaugurated President Donald Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including 16 from Long Island.

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

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.

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.

People pardoned from Long Island include:

Peter Moloney, Bayport. He pleaded guilty to a felony charge of assaulting, resisting, and impeding certain officers and a misdemeanor charge of assault and was scheduled for sentencing on Feb. 11, prosecutors said.

Isabella DeLuca, Setauket. DeLuca was arrested on misdemeanor charges "related to her conduct on Jan. 6, 2021, and has a last known address in Setauket," a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office said. She pleaded not guilty and was set for a jury trial on May 12, NPR said.

Matthew Schmitz, Lindenhurst. He was charged with misdemeanor crimes in connection with the insurrection, officials said; he pleaded guilty to one charge of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; the other charges were dismissed, NPR said.

Gabriel Morgan Brown, Bayville. He was arrested and charged with disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; and act of physical violence on U.S. Capitol grounds and pleaded guilty, NPR said.

Thomas Carey, Cold Spring Harbor. He was arrested and charged with parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; he pleaded guilty to the single charge, NPR said.

Thomas Fee, Freeport. He was arrested and faced charges including violent entry, disorderly conduct and knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority, officials said. He pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; the other charges were dismissed, NPR said.

Eric Gerwatowski, New Hyde Park. Officials arrested and charged Gerwatowski with civil disorder, 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, impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings, and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building, authorities said. Gerwatowski pleaded guilty to one charge of civil disorder; the other charges were dismissed, NPR said.

Frank Rocco Giustino, Kings Park. He was arrested and charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol Building, NPR said. He pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building and the other charges were dismissed, NPR said.

Zvonimir Joseph Jurlina, Bethpage. He was arrested and charged with destruction of property in special maritime and territorial jurisdiction and aiding and abetting; act of physical violence on grounds, officials said. He pleaded guilty to the charge of act of physical violence on Capitol grounds, NPR said.

Justin McAuliffe, of Bellmore, was arrested and charged with knowingly entering and remaining on restricted grounds without lawful authority and/or engaging in disorderly conduct within proximity to a restricted building to impede official functions, authorities said. He pleaded guilty to the charge against him on Nov. 23, 2021, officials said.

Christopher Ortiz, of Huntington, was arrested and charged, including charges of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds, authorities said. He pleaded guilty to one charge of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; the othercharges were dismissed, NPR said.

Jon Lizak, Cold Spring Harbor: He pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, NPR said.

Kevin and Carol Moore, Massapequa. The Moores were arrested and charged with misdemeanor trespassing and disorderly conduct, officials said; both pleaded not guilty, officials said.

John O'Kelly, East Williston. He was charged with assaulting law enforcement officers and interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. He pleaded not guilty, officials said.

Greg Rubenacker, of Farmingdale, was arrested and charged with civil disorder; obstruction of an official proceeding; assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers; entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, officials said at the time. He pleaded guilty, according to NPR.

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.