Pardoned Capitol Rioters Face New Charges
At least five individuals pardoned by Donald Trump for the Capitol attack have since faced new criminal charges.
Lauren Collins ·
Pardoned Capitol Rioters Face New Charges
At least five individuals pardoned by former President Donald Trump for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol attack have subsequently been accused of new crimes. This development highlights ongoing legal challenges for some participants in the Capitol breach, even after receiving presidential pardons.
The latest instance occurred on May 10, when Ryan Nichols, 35, was arrested in Harleton, Texas, on a charge of deadly conduct. Authorities allege Nichols brandished a handgun during an argument in a church parking lot. Nichols had previously pleaded guilty in November 2023 to charges related to the Capitol attack, including assaulting officers with pepper spray, and was sentenced to five years and three months in prison before receiving a pardon in January 2025.
Nichols' arrest follows similar incidents involving other pardoned individuals. Christopher Moynihan pleaded guilty in February to a harassment charge in New York for threatening U.S. House Democratic leader Hakeem Jeffries. Zachary Alam was sentenced on May 7 to seven years in prison in Virginia after a burglary conviction. These cases indicate a pattern of legal issues persisting among a subset of individuals who received pardons for their roles in the Capitol riot.