Former President of the United States, Donald Trump, has issued further pardons to individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Among those pardoned were a militia member and a woman who had threatened FBI agents, broadening the scope of clemency he had already granted to numerous individuals involved in the events of that day.
According to a report from CNN, one of the recipients of clemency is Dan (Danny) Wilson, a militia member who had previously been pardoned by Trump for conduct related to January 6. The latest pardon now includes firearm offenses in Kentucky, which were not covered in the initial presidential pardon granted on Trump's inauguration day.
In April, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals denied Wilson's attempt to overturn those firearm-related convictions, which were originally issued in Kentucky and later transferred to Washington. The court concluded that the "clear language of the pardon does not apply to firearm offenses in Kentucky." Following this ruling, Wilson returned to prison.
The new unconditional pardon was facilitated by pardon attorney Ed Martin, who stated on social media platform X that "Danny Wilson is now a free man." Martin emphasized his advocacy for clemency for Wilson both during his time as a federal prosecutor in D.C. and in his current role.
The White House explained to CNN that the weapons charges were "ultimately related to the January 6 investigation," noting that while Wilson was investigated for his actions that day—actions for which he had already received a broader pardon in January—investigators discovered potential unauthorized firearm possession.
"Because the search of Mr. Wilson's home was due to the events of January 6, President Trump is pardoning him for the firearm issues," a White House official stated.
Ed Martin also announced that Trump granted another pardon to Suzanne Kaye, who had been sentenced to prison for threatening to shoot FBI agents in a video posted on social media in 2021. The threats were aimed at agents who sought to question her about her presence in Washington on January 6.
Kaye was arrested in February 2021, and a 2023 Department of Justice statement noted that in the video, she declared she would "shoot [expletive] them" if agents showed up at her home. Martin defended the pardon, arguing that the Biden administration’s Department of Justice had "targeted" her for her social media posts, claiming Trump is "undoing the damage" caused by what they see as the Biden DOJ's weaponization.
This narrative aligns with Trump and his allies' portrayal of prosecutions against January 6 participants and his supporters as political persecution rather than legal accountability for specific crimes.
The new pardons add to a wave of over 1,000 pardons and commutations Trump issued in January to individuals involved in the Capitol attack, a measure he expressed pride in last month. Through these actions, the former president reinforces his support for those who took part in that day’s events while distancing from the institutional narrative that frames January 6 as an attempt to undermine the electoral process and peaceful power transition.
Meanwhile, civil rights organizations, prosecutors, and critics of the former president warn that these pardons send a message of impunity to those who engaged in violence or threats related to January 6. In contrast, Trump's allies view the new clemency measures as part of efforts to rectify what they perceive as punitive excesses and a "politicization" of the Justice Department under Joe Biden's administration, a rhetoric echoed by Ed Martin in his public statements.
In another wave of clemency, upon taking office in January 2025, President Donald Trump pardoned and commuted the sentences of nearly 1,500 individuals convicted for their roles in the 2021 Capitol riot. The signing of the presidential pardon took place in the Oval Office, marking one of his first executive orders following his inauguration.
Trump highlighted that many of those pardoned were "victims" of a judicial system that, in his view, had treated them unfairly. Among the pardoned are members of the extremist groups Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, who played significant roles in leading the violent attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
One of the most significant cases is that of Cuban Enrique Tarrio, leader of the Proud Boys, who had been sentenced to 22 years in prison for "sedition." The Capitol assault, carried out by Trump supporters, aimed to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's electoral victory in the November 2020 elections. The violent attack resulted in the deaths of four individuals and injuries to more than 140 police officers.
Understanding Trump's Recent Pardons
Who are the key figures recently pardoned by Trump?
Dan (Danny) Wilson, a militia member, and Suzanne Kaye, known for threatening FBI agents, are among those recently pardoned.
What was the rationale behind the pardons?
The pardons were issued as part of an effort to rectify what Trump and his allies see as unfair treatment and overreach by the judicial system under the Biden administration.
What impact do these pardons have on public perception?
Critics argue that these pardons may signal impunity for those involved in the Capitol riot, while supporters claim they address judicial overreach.