"Man of His Word?": Jan. 6 Defendants Hold Out Hope for Trump Pardons
Derrick Evans, a former West Virginia legislator and Jan. 6 participant, is watching November’s election results closely, hoping they could mean a fresh start. With Donald Trump projected to return to the White House, Evans expects Trump to make good on promises to pardon those charged in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
“A pardon would change my life,” said Evans, who joined over 2,000 others in storming the Capitol in 2021. Convicted of civil disorder, Evans served three months in federal prison after accepting a plea deal. Trump, who has frequently described the rioters as “patriots” and “political prisoners,” has repeatedly vowed to free them. Yet, it’s unclear how many would qualify or when any action would be taken.
Evans, undeterred, has faith in Trump’s word. “I believe he’s a man of his word,” Evans told BBC News. Trump, for his part, has echoed this sentiment throughout his campaign. In March, he posted on Truth Social, pledging to “free the January 6 hostages being wrongfully imprisoned” as one of his first moves back in office. And when asked at the National Association of Black Journalists forum in July if he would honor this promise, he reaffirmed: “Oh, absolutely, I would. If they’re innocent, I would pardon them.”
However, Trump has indicated that any pardons wouldn’t necessarily be universal. “I’m inclined to pardon many of them,” he said in one interview. “But not all. A few probably went too far.”
The Jan. 6 Capitol riot sparked one of the largest federal investigations in U.S. history, leading to nearly 600 arrests for assaulting police officers or impeding law enforcement. Notably, some defendants like Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, and Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, didn’t enter the Capitol but faced heavy charges for orchestrating the unrest.
As the 2025 inauguration approaches, the FBI is still pursuing suspects from the riot, with nine individuals wanted for violent assaults on police officers. In the meantime, the Department of Justice is focusing on bringing more serious cases to trial before Trump takes office on January 20, aiming to avoid potential impacts of new pardons on pending cases.
With the anticipation of possible clemency, some defendants have asked for delays in their cases, hoping a Trump administration might ultimately grant them a pardon. Recently, Christopher Carnell, a North Carolina resident convicted on multiple charges, requested to delay his sentencing due to “clemency actions relevant to his case.” The request was denied, as was a similar request from Jonathanpeter Klein, a defendant awaiting sentencing.
These developments come amid an undercurrent of enthusiasm in fringe communities online, where some refer to Jan. 6 prisoners as “hostages” and “prisoners of war.” Jake Lang, who faces charges of assaulting police officers, posted online about his expectation of release following Trump’s return to power. “IM COMING HOME!!!! THE JANUARY 6 POLITICAL PRISONERS ARE FINALLY COMING HOME!!!!” he wrote.
The anticipation of pardons has led some groups to encourage restraint until Trump is sworn in. A Proud Boys-affiliated Telegram channel even suggested that followers avoid traveling to D.C. for the inauguration: “Celebrate locally and await the release of our Boys.”
Wendy Via, co-founder of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism (GPAHE), warns that mass pardons could undermine public trust in the legal system. “This would send a message that political violence is an acceptable response to losing an election,” she stated. For now, while broad clemency seems uncertain, defendants like Evans still believe they may see freedom, and some even hope for reparations.
“It would take more than just a pardon to set things right,” Evans said. “Restitution would be appropriate too.”
