Trump DOJ mass-deletes info on Jan. 6 riot cases, incl violent assaults on cops
4 hours ago
- #January 6 Capitol Riot
- #Justice Department Deletions
- #Trump Administration
- The Trump administration has mass-deleted Justice Department news releases detailing prosecutions related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, including cases involving assaults on police officers.
- Deleted information includes cases of defendants who pleaded guilty or were convicted of serious assaults on law enforcement, such as using electroshock devices, flagpoles, wooden pallets, pepper spray, and metal chairs, with sentences ranging from 7 to over 14 years in prison.
- The administration defends the deletions as reversing the DOJ's 'weaponization' under Biden and removing 'partisan propaganda,' while also taking broader actions like pardoning all January 6 defendants, firing prosecutors, and creating an 'Anti-Weaponization Fund' that may provide payouts to rioters.
- Police officers assaulted during the riot report lifelong physical and psychological injuries, with some suing to prevent payouts from the fund, as critics argue the administration is trying to rewrite the history of the attack to condone future threats to democracy.
- NPR maintains a comprehensive, accessible database and visual archive of January 6 prosecutions, used by various stakeholders, and is pursuing legal action to obtain additional undisclosed video evidence from the government.