US justice department seeks to throw out Capitol riot convictions

April 15, 2026

The U.S. Department of Justice has requested a federal appeals court dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions of twelve individuals involved in the January 6, 2021 Capitol riots. While President Trump pardoned over 1,000 riot participants, he specifically commuted sentences for a dozen Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members, which released them from prison but left their criminal records intact. The DOJ now argues that dismissing these cases entirely serves justice interests, which would represent a significant symbolic win for Trump who campaigned on freeing January 6 defendants.

Who is affected

12 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers whose sentences were commuted
Stewart Rhodes, Oath Keepers founder
Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, former Proud Boys leader (pardoned, not commuted)
Over 1,500 people who received pardons or commutations on Trump's first day in office
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia
The Trump administration's Department of Justice

What action is being taken

The U.S. Department of Justice is asking a federal appeals court to dismiss the convictions
The individuals are seeking to expunge their records in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia

Why it matters

This represents a significant symbolic victory for President Trump, who made freeing January 6 participants a central campaign pledge. The dismissal would completely erase serious seditious conspiracy convictions for attempting to overthrow the government, going beyond mere release from prison to eliminate any criminal record. It also spares the Trump administration's Justice Department from having to defend these convictions in the appeals process.

What's next

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia has set an April 17 deadline for filing the requests to expunge records.

Read full article from source: BBC