Wild scenes unfolded outside a Washington, D.C. jail holding Jan. 6 prisoners as supporters, protesters, and police converged in the wake of pardons with a high-profile monitor.
Within hours of his inauguration, the 45th and 47th president of the United States moved quickly to fulfill his America First promise and undo the damage of his predecessor. This included a sweeping pardon of all J6 defendants not specifically listed for commutation, leading to a crowd bubbling over in anticipation of releases that had Elon Musk’s attention.
Outside the Washington, D.C. Central Detention Center, NewsNation Senior National Correspondent Brian Entin shared footage as a crowd rushed the doors of the facility in anticipation of the releases, only to get pushed back by law enforcement.
“This is the scene outside the Central Detention Center in Washington DC where family and supporters of January 6th defendants are waiting for them to be released after the pardons,” he captioned the video. “Timing is unclear. Police pushed crowd back from the doors. Most people are across the street now.”
This is the scene outside the Central Detention Center in Washington DC where family and supporters of January 6th defendants are waiting for them to be released after the pardons.
Timing is unclear.
Police pushed crowd back from the doors. Most people are across the street now. pic.twitter.com/NorWVfPc7h— Brian Entin (@BrianEntin) January 21, 2025
Likewise, CNN Senior Correspondent Donie O’Sullivan was among those getting pushed back as he spoke with anchor Anderson Cooper, citing the hopes of some individuals to be released in time to attend the inaugural balls with President Donald Trump.
O’Sullivan noted that many of those gathered were those who had been holding nightly vigils throughout the Biden administration, calling for the release of the J6 prisoners whom Trump had unequivocally referred to as “hostages” when signing his executive order. They were confronted by protesters who were reportedly removed from the scene by police.
“Some of the people inside this prison are hoping to make it to the inaugural balls tonight”: Donie O’Sullivan reports from outside the DC Central Detention Facility after President Trump ends all January 6 cases with pardons, commutations, and dismissals. pic.twitter.com/cAxQwycIvf
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) January 21, 2025
Some of the disruptions came as loved ones and supporters wondered at the holdup on the releases, prompting Department of Government Efficiency head Elon Musk to issue a request to be kept apprised of any issues.
“Please let us know if you encounter any difficulties with release of your loved ones,” he captioned a post from Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk who shared an image of Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons with the message, “If you are a family member of a J6 hostage go to the prison and show a copy. They have to release the prisoner. Pardon power is absolute total and immediate. Don’t let them delay — we demand immediate release! Bring them home!”
Please let us know if you encounter any difficulties with release of your loved ones https://t.co/GRAw2qcVnG
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) January 21, 2025
Notably, in addition to the pardons and commutations, Trump called for the dismissal of the more than 400 cases yet to be completed, a point on which WUSA9 investigative reporter Jordan Fischer said, “Defendants still awaiting trial or sentencing — the vast majority at the jail — have not been pardoned. Trump ordered their cases dismissed. That’s not going to happen at 11 p.m. on a federal holiday.”
However, there were quite a few releases completed in the initial hours, including brothers Matthew and Andrew Valentin.
BREAKING: First January 6th political prisoners to be released after President Trump’s pardon: brothers Matthew and Andrew Valentin. They were released minutes ago from the DC Jail.
A HISTORIC DAY IN AMERICA! pic.twitter.com/7INfhxLqGr
— Paul Ingrassia (@PaulIngrassia) January 21, 2025
While Musk conveyed a concerted effort to get “as many of the J6 political prisoners” out within 24 hours as they could, NBC News correspondent Ken Dilanian detailed another notable name set to be released, writing on X, “A lawyer for former proud boys chairman Enrique Tarrio tells me Tarrio is being processed for release from a medium security prison in Louisiana, where he is currently serving a 22-year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for helping to organize the Jan 6th attack. The lawyer does not know what type of clemency he is to receive. But he appears to be getting out of prison.”
As Tarrio’s name was not included among the commutations, he was expected to have received a full pardon based on the order specifying “a full, complete, and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”
A lawyer for former proud boys chairman Enrique Tarrio tells me Tarrio is being processed for release from a medium security prison in Louisiana, where he is currently serving a 22 year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy for helping to organize the Jan…
— Ken Dilanian (@KenDilanianNBC) January 21, 2025
Trump didn’t stop there as J6 defense attorney Marina Medvin highlighted how “Trump just turned the tables on the DOJ. He’s now directing his government to investigate the DOJ for their misconduct related to J6 persecutions.”
Her post included a screenshot of the president’s executive order condemning the Biden DOJ for “ruthlessly” prosecuting the J6 defendants as he called for a review of “the activities of all departments and agencies exercising civil or criminal enforcement authority of the United States,” including the DOJ.
Trump just turned the tables on the DOJ. He’s now directing his government to investigate the DOJ for their misconduct related to J6 persecutions. pic.twitter.com/UvcZOYdvNK
— Marina Medvin (@MarinaMedvin) January 21, 2025
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