Hudson Valley Residents Pardoned for Jan. 6 Involvement
Rioters gather outside of the Capitol protesting the 2020 election outcome. Photo by Brett Davis via Flickr
Approximately four years after his supporters led an attack on the U.S. Capitol, over 1,500 people with criminal convictions in connection to the Jan. 6 insurrection were pardoned by President Donald Trump on his first day back in the White House.
On Jan. 6, 2021, shockwaves were sent through America as thousands gathered outside of the nation’s Capitol and eventually stormed their way in. Between television footage, cell phone videos taken by rioters and body cameras worn by the officers under siege, there is a remarkably comprehensive record of the violence that occurred. Rioters armed with weapons ranging from bear spray to baseball bats assaulted police officers and destroyed government property.
The actions of this day resulted in one of the largest FBI investigations ever, with criminal charges against more than 1,500 people and criminal convictions against more than 1,100 defendants.
President Trump, however, looked to form a new narrative, referring to the insurrectionists as “hostages” and victims of political persecution, rather than criminal defendants.
Many, including Marist University students, disagree with President Trump’s decision.
“Pardoning those who sought to undermine one of this country's fundamental values, the peaceful transition of power, is a blatant slap in the face to the Constitution and a direct affront to the integrity of our democratic institutions,” said Marcus Francis ‘27.
As he regained a seat in the Oval Office, President Trump quickly worked to right what he saw as a great wrong. With the stroke of a pen, he issued clemency to nearly all of those involved and commuted the sentence of 14 individuals.
Nearly 700 defendants either never received prison sentences or had already served them, so the pardons do not affect many to that degree. They do, however, restore voting and gun rights for those who were convicted of felonies.
The extent to which those involved in the Capitol riot was immense, stretching from coast to coast, with some even coming from the Hudson Valley.
Chip Rowe, editor for the Highlands Current, recently reported on at least 10 men in the area who were convicted on charges relating to the Jan. 6 insurrection.
William Pepe, formerly of Beacon, was convicted of a felony (obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder) and four misdemeanors. He is the president of the Hudson Valley Chapter of right-wing extremist group the Proud Boys. Prosecutors said Pepe arranged the local Proud Boys chapter’s travel to Washington D.C., dismantled barriers and helped coordinate some of the ensuing destruction using an earpiece and radios.
Edward “Jake” Lang of Newburgh was arrested 10 days following the insurrection and had been incarcerated since his arrest. During this time he maintained a constant media presence, championing himself as a defender of political freedom. After many delays, prosecutors asked that the trial begin Jan. 27; the indictment has since been dismissed.
Roberto Minuta of Newburgh is a member of the Oath Keepers, an anti-government, right-wing political organization. In 2023, he and 3 others were sentenced on charges of seditious conspiracy. He is one of the 14 individuals commuted by President Trump, ending his 4 ½ year sentence before its termination date of Oct. 2026.
“These are actual criminals and the fact that I go to school [in the Hudson Valley] and [as a result] have any link to them makes me so ashamed,” said Alexandra Russo ‘26.
When asked how other Hudson Valley locals may react to the news of these rioters from the area being pardoned, Rowe pointed out that this information is not new to the public.
“It's all available in court records so we aren't reporting anything not already available to people to read on their own,” Rowe said.
However, some of the information on these cases is becoming inaccessible. The U.S. Department of Justice is under scrutiny after public webpages, including case summaries of the Jan. 6 siege, went dark last week. The deletion of this information from the government site has many concerned.
“It's so extremely terrifying that [the government is] just trying to erase [Jan. 6] from the memories of the American people because they are in charge and they want to paint the narrative a certain way,” said Russo.
It also raises questions of transparency and accountability between the U.S. government and the public. Distrust and skepticism have the conditions to thrive.
“Actions like this erode public trust in the justice system and make it harder for people to believe in the fairness of legal processes like these,” said Francis. “This is especially poignant as we are already at a point where trust in our institutions is incredibly fragile”.
The decision to pardon 1,500 people and the removal of government web pages in his first few days have set a precedent for what President Trump’s term in office will bring to this country.