Trump Promises To Free Jan. 6 Inmates In DC Jail — Almost All Of Them Assaulted Law Enforcement Officers

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Former President Donald Trump has made the Jan. 6 defendants a key part of his 2024 campaign, promising that one of his “first acts” in office if reelected, would be to free the “January 6 hostages,” as he calls the defendants.

As of March 2024, the D.C. Department of Corrections had 29 Jan. 6 inmates in its custody, including defendants who are either awaiting trial or post-conviction, according to a new deep-dive investigation in Just Security that documents exactly who each of these defendants are and what each has been charged with or convicted of.

The Just Security investigation was prepared by Tom Joscelyn, a professional staff member on the House Jan. 6th Committee and a principal drafter of its final report; Amb. Norm Eisen (ret.), special counsel to the House Judiciary Committee majority during the first impeachment and trial of President Trump; and Democracy 21 President Fred Wertheimer.

The Just Security investigation includes detailed bios of each of the 29 defendants held by the  D.C. Department of Corrections. Among the overall findings:

⮞ 27 of the 29 Jan. 6 inmates have been charged with assaulting law enforcement officers in the Capitol or on its grounds that day.

⮞ 19 of the 27 Jan. 6 inmates charged with assaulting law enforcement officers have already been convicted at trial (10) or pleaded guilty (9) to that charge. Eight are awaiting trial.

⮞ The Jan 6. D.C. inmates’ assaults on law enforcement include some of the most disturbing acts of violence at the Capitol that day, including throwing an explosive device that detonated on 25 officers, and assaulting officers with an electro-shock device, pepper spray, metal pole, and makeshift weapons.

⮞ The Jan. 6 D.C. inmates were incited by Trump and many attended his “Stop The Steal” rally that day.

⮞ The Jan. 6 D.C. inmates include individuals with known far-right extremist beliefs or ties.

⮞ Only 2 of the 29 Jan 6. inmates have not been charged with assaulting law enforcement officers, but allegedly engaged in other disturbing behavior.

“Former President Trump claims to be pro-police,” according to co-author Wertheimer. “However, Trump’s alleged support for the police magically disappears when it comes to the police who defended the Capitol against the Trump-incited violent January 6 mob.”

Wertheimer continued: “As the Just Security investigation shows, Trump wants to pardon convicted criminals who attacked and injured police officers who were doing their duty to defend the Capitol and our democracy. Trump is choosing convicted criminals over police officers. That’s not a pro-police position.”

Read the full investigation on Just Security.