President Trump pardons, commutes sentences for Jan. 6 defendants

WASHINGTON—Newly inaugurated President Donald Trump issued an executive order Monday night commuting the sentences of 14 people charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riots. The order commutes their sentences to time served. Those defendants included: Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Thomas Caldwell, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, David Moerschel, Joseph Hackett, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Dominic Pezzola, and Jeremy Bertino.

Trump went on to issue full pardons to any other individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 riot and directed the U.S. attorney general to permanently dismiss all currently pending indictments against Jan. 6 defendants.

Trump’s executive order characterized the prosecutions of individuals involved in the riots as a grave national injustice perpetrated against the American people over the past four years. He added that the sentence commutations and pardons would begin a process of national reconciliation.

The president previously signed several executive orders Monday mere moments after taking the oath of office. He did so even before heading to greet thousands of his supporters gathered at Capital One Arena. In his inaugural address, he ran through a list of agenda items for his presidency, promising that some of those actions would come later on Monday.

Trump went on to sign additional executive orders Monday night. They included an order declaring a national emergency at the U.S. southern border and an order withdrawing the United States from the World Health Organization. Another order revoked the security clearances of more than 50 former intelligence officers Trump said coordinated with the Biden administration to discredit reports that Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, abandoned his laptop at a U.S. repair business.

At the time of this writing, President Trump continues to sign executive orders. For a more up-to-date list, click here.

What other orders did he sign earlier in the day? Trump’s first order mandated that all flags would fly at full staff for the rest of the day on Monday and on all future inauguration days. On Tuesday, flags should return to half-staff in order to commemorate the death of former President Jimmy Carter, Trump’s order said. Trump also issued a formal statement enumerating his cabinet appointments, all of whom are still awaiting confirmation by the Senate.

Trump also issued other statements listing his sub-Cabinet appointments and designating his choices to serve as acting secretaries and directors of federal agencies, as well as other acting leaders. Additionally, he issued a statement specifying his picks for chairmen and chairwomen—acting and permanent—of various federal committees and commissions.

At Capital One Arena Monday evening, Trump signed additional executive orders.

• He ordered a temporary freeze on new federal regulations.

• Trump signed an order temporarily freezing all federal hiring, except for the military and a few other departments.

• He signed another order requiring all federal employees to return to working in-person offices.

• Another order instructed federal agencies to address what Trump called a cost-of-living crisis that had strained Americans' finances.

• Trump signed an order withdrawing the United States from the Paris climate accords.

• Trump also ordered the U.S. attorney general to review the activities of the federal government over the last four years to determine if there were cases of government censorship or abridgment of free speech rights.

• Trump signed another order directing the U.S. attorney general to review civil and criminal prosecutions to ensure they are not being used to weaponize federal government agencies against political adversaries.

Dig deeper: Read John D. Wilsey’s column in WORLD Opinions about how peaceful transfers of power are an American contribution to civilization.