Turns Out These January 6th Criminals Were Also Regular Criminals the Whole Time
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following his Inauguration Day pardoning and commutation of the more than 1,500 January 6th rioters, we continue to learn more about the rap sheets of Donald Trump’s pardonees. Charges for those Trump released include firearms offenses, domestic violence, drug trafficking, and sexual abuse of a child.
“The people who stormed the United States Capitol to overturn the 2020 election are criminals,” said Courage for America spokesperson Danny Turkel. “It should surprise no one that a significant number of them had considerable criminal records, some having committed heinous and violent crimes. Those prior crimes should have been taken into account when these pardons were under consideration. In his attempt to rewrite history and stoke his base, Trump has put communities across the country at risk.”
Among those who received a Trump pardon for their role in the January 6th insurrection are:
- Theodore Middendorf of McLeansboro, IL, is currently serving a 19-year prison sentence for predatory criminal sexual assault of a child.
- Andrew Taake of Leon County, TX, was rearrested for charges of online solicitation of a minor from 2016.
- Daniel Ball of Homosassa, FL, was arrested shortly after his release on charges of illegal firearm possession, a prohibition that stems from a 2017 domestic battery conviction and a 2022 conviction of battery on a law enforcement officer.
- Emily Hernandez of Sullivan, MO, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for driving while intoxicated, causing the death of another passenger and causing serious physical injury.
- Peter Schwartz of Uniontown, PA, previously convicted of assault with a deadly weapon, battery, terroristic threats, and domestic violence.
In the weeks leading up to Trump’s inauguration and in light of his pledge to to pardon the rioters within “the first nine minutes” of taking office, Courage for America warned of the potential for lawlessness in communities around the country by those whom the president pardoned. Courage for America ran advertisements alerting the public of the threat and called on voters to demand their elected officials publicly oppose pardoning the January 6th rioters, as well as an ad highlighting many of the freed rioters desire for retribution.
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About Courage for America
Courage for America is a campaign advised by a council of proud Americans speaking out against an extreme MAGA agenda that puts money and power over the rights and freedoms of the American people. The campaign is amplifying the voices of Americans in communities across the country — veterans, educators, faith leaders, and more — to demand the People’s House works for the people. Learn more at courageforamerica.org.