The specter of presidential pardons looms large over the fourth anniversary of the January 6th Capitol attack, fueling a sense of impending deliverance among many of those accused or convicted of participating in the insurrection. This hope is particularly strong amongst those who, like Jake Lang, view their involvement not as a crime but as a righteous stand against tyranny. Lang, facing charges of assaulting police officers, sent a mass text message at the end of 2024 proclaiming his imminent release and the coming salvation of hundreds of others. His four-year pre-trial incarceration, deliberately prolonged, is framed by him as a “very similar process” to the biblical deliverance of the Jewish people, a narrative shared by many within the January 6th community.
This shared belief system, characterized by a lack of remorse and the rejection of culpability, is bolstered by narratives of a federal conspiracy and coercion. The recent release of a Department of Justice inspector general report detailing the presence of 26 informants at the Capitol is cited as proof of a set-up, further reinforcing the idea of victimhood. This narrative is skillfully employed by some to rehabilitate their public image and even advance their careers. Pete Marocco, linked to the Capitol breach but not charged, is working with the Trump transition team, while others, such as Russell Taylor, have leveraged their participation to gain access to high-profile events like the Trump inauguration. Several have even unsuccessfully sought public office, using their status as “political prisoners” to build their platform.
Donald Trump’s election victory and his promise of swift pardons – potentially within “the first nine minutes” of his second term – have only intensified this expectation. While hinting at a case-by-case assessment, Trump has signaled that a vast majority of those involved should not be in jail. This promise fuels a widespread belief amongst the January 6th community that their legal woes are soon to end. However, the sheer scale of the investigation remains daunting. Nearly 1,600 individuals have faced federal charges, and while many have pleaded guilty or been convicted, the FBI’s Capitol violence website still lists 90 identified individuals yet to be arrested. Moreover, hundreds, perhaps thousands, involved may never face prosecution.
The potential impact of widespread pardons is deeply concerning to political violence experts. The granting of clemency undermines the deterrent effect of the legal process, potentially emboldening future acts of political violence. This concern is heightened by the widespread acceptance within conservative media circles of the narrative that January 6th was a federal set-up, effectively granting tacit permission for similar actions in the future. While many convicted individuals have remained silent since their sentencing, those who have spoken publicly continue to support Trump and his election fraud claims, showing no disavowal of the beliefs that led them to the Capitol.
The experiences of those involved are varied. Some, like Jenna Ryan, a Texas realtor who served 60 days in prison, have gained notoriety, using social media to chronicle their experiences and maintain their narrative of victimhood. Others have faced job losses and financial difficulties, relying on support groups like the Patriot Freedom Project for assistance. Yet, despite the hardships and legal ramifications, the belief in their innocence and the anticipation of a presidential pardon remains a unifying force within this community, forging a collective identity built upon a shared experience and a shared vision of redemption.