Trump Grants Full Pardon to Jan. 6 Rioter, Canceling Separate Firearms Conviction

Hundreds of Trump supporters forcibly entered the Capitol on January 6, 2021.

United States:

US President Donald Trump has granted a second pardon to a militia member involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol Hill riot who was incarcerated for unlawful firearms possession.

Trump had previously pardoned Dan Wilson, a member of the far-right Oath Keepers organization, during his January 21 inauguration, alongside 1,500 other riot participants.

However, Wilson's distinct conviction for illegal firearm possession at his Kentucky residence was not initially included in the pardon.

He was serving a five-year sentence and was scheduled for release in 2028.

According to a presidential decree dated Friday and reviewed by AFP, the latest pardon was described as "full and unconditional."

Wilson's legal representatives, George Pallas and Carol Stewart, stated that he was "relieved to be home with his loved ones" after spending seven months in confinement.

They told US media outlets, including Politico, that the pardon "not only restores his freedom but also shines a light on the overreach that has divided this nation."

In February, the Trump administration initially contended that the pardon did not extend to the firearms conviction as it was unconnected to the Capitol riot.

However, the Justice Department reversed its position several weeks later, determining that the pardon should encompass the weapons offenses since they were discovered during an FBI investigation into the riot.

Trump has consistently minimized the gravity of the Capitol riot, referring to it as a "day of love" and an "outpouring of affection" directed toward him.

Hundreds of Trump supporters forcibly entered the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to block the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory.