Summary
At least 13 individuals who received pardons from President Donald Trump have since been charged with new crimes. This situation has sparked more discussion about how presidential pardons work and how they might affect justice. Many of the pardoned people had connections to the January 6 Capitol attack.
Key Facts
- President Donald Trump pardoned 238 people in his first term and after his 2024 reelection, he pardoned another 1,500 people, including Capitol rioters.
- At least 13 of those pardoned by Trump have been charged with new crimes after receiving clemency.
- Andrew Taake was pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack and later arrested on charges of online solicitation of a minor from 2016.
- Edward Kelley, after being pardoned, was sentenced to life in prison for conspiracy to murder FBI agents related to a separate case.
- Emily Hernandez was pardoned for her involvement in January 6 but was later sentenced for a fatal DUI crash.
- Daniel Ball and others faced charges related to illegal activities such as gun possession and violence, even after being pardoned.
- Legal and public scrutiny has increased over the pardoning process, especially when it bypasses traditional vetting.
