Justice Department Removes Jan. 6 Prosecution Details from Government Websites
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The Justice Department (DOJ) has deleted news releases detailing guilty pleas, jury verdicts, and prison sentences for January 6 defendants from government websites. The removed information included specific cases of rioters who assaulted police officers. NPR maintains a public database of the cases, and legal action is underway to obtain more video evidence.
Facts First
- DOJ news releases on Jan. 6 cases were removed from government websites last week, now showing 'Page not found'.
- The deleted releases detailed convictions for assaults on police, including cases with sentences ranging from 7 to over 14 years.
- The Trump administration granted clemency to every Jan. 6 defendant, including pardons for violent rioters.
- The DOJ fired dozens of prosecutors who worked on the cases and hired a former riot defendant.
- NPR maintains a searchable public database of nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 criminal cases and is seeking more video evidence.
What Happened
Last week, Justice Department (DOJ) news releases detailing guilty pleas, jury verdicts, and prison sentences for January 6, 2021, defendants disappeared from government websites. The pages now result in a 'Page not found' message. The deleted releases provided information on several specific cases, including those of Daniel Rodriguez, Albuquerque Head, Thomas Webster, Christopher Alberts, and Peter Schwartz, who were convicted of assaulting police officers and received sentences ranging from over seven years to 14 years in prison.
Why this Matters to You
This removal of public records may affect your ability to access official information about a major event in recent U.S. history. It could make it harder to independently verify the outcomes of these cases, which involved assaults on 140 police officers and threats to members of Congress. The administration's subsequent actions—including granting clemency to all defendants, firing prosecutors, and settling a lawsuit with a rioter's estate—could signal a shift in how the events of that day are officially documented and remembered.
What's Next
NPR is taking legal action to obtain additional undisclosed video evidence held by the government. Its existing public database of nearly 1,600 cases remains a resource for tracking charges and sentences. Legal challenges may arise regarding the administration's handling of these records and the newly announced 'Anti-Weaponization Fund,' as two police officers from January 6 are suing to prevent payouts from it.