The DOJ has filed motions to vacate the convictions of several defendants linked to the January 6 Capitol riots.
'Not in the Interests of Justice': DOJ Makes Shocking Move to Vacate January 6 Convictions
The Department of Justice (DOJ) moved a federal court to vacate the convictions of several individuals tied to the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots. The move was made on Tuesday, April 14.
The motion specifically focused on members of the right-wing organizations Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, many of whom had been found guilty of seditious conspiracy and have criminal judgments against them.
In doing so, the department is seeking to clear some of the remaining convictions connected to the Capitol riots.
According to Fox News, federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia wrote, "In the Executive Branch's view, it is not in the interests of justice to continue to prosecute this case or the cases of other, similarly situated defendants."
April 14's filings have also asked that the indictments be vacated "with prejudice," meaning the charges would be permanently dropped and could not be refiled by the government.
Last year, shortly after taking office as the president for the second term, Donald Trump issued pardons for almost everybody convicted in the January 6 Capitol breach.
The president commuted the prison sentences of 14 people to time served. This allowed them to be released without serving additional time.
MS NOW Legal Analyst Barb McQuade criticizes DOJ's move to dismiss the January 6 convictions.
Oath Keepers Members Mentioned in DOJ Filings
One of the 12 major high-profile defendants mentioned in the filings is Stewart Rhodes, the founder of Oath Keepers.
According to the news outlet, prosecutors had previously said that Rhodes plotted "to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power" when Trump was defeated in the 2020 election by Joe Biden.
At the time, the DOJ said that on the day of the riots, Rhodes "coordinated activities" while a group of Oath Keepers marched on the Capitol. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges.
Kelly Meggs is another Oath Keepers member mentioned in the filings. She is the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization.
Two other members of the organization referenced in the filing include Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins.
CBS Mornings shares clips of the 2021 January 6 Capitol riots in Washington, D.C.
Proud Boys Members Also Referenced in DOJ Filings
A few members of the Proud Boys organization have also been referenced in the DOJ's filings. Among them is Ethan Nordean, one of the group's leaders, who has been convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Other members of the group include Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl.
The DOJ is also seeking to dismiss the conviction of Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola.
He was filmed using a riot shield to smash a window at the Capitol and was later sentenced to ten years in prison.
Pezzola was also convicted of assaulting or resisting officers, robbery involving government property, obstruction, and other charges.
Greg Rosen, the former chief of the Justice Department's Capitol Siege Section, strongly criticized the DOJ's decision.
Rosen, who is the current shareholder at boutique litigation firm Rogers Joseph O'Donnell PC, told CBS News, "It's a reminder of what drove the pardons in the first place — that political violence is acceptable as long as your politics align. And it's a continuing and sad commentary on the current state of the Department."