Capitol Riot pardons: Bureau of Prisons 'dragging feet,' delaying release of defendants, attorney says

Less than 12 hours in office and President Donald Trump has already pardoned approximately 1,500 people who allegedly participated in the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot, but a Florida attorney said the Bureau of Prisons is dragging its feet when it comes to releasing them.

'Why are they spending another night behind bars?'

What they're saying:

Of the nearly 1,500 Trump supporters charged in the 2021 U.S. Capitol riot, several are from Florida.

Attorney Norm Pattis represents seven men charged in the riot. Late Monday night, Pattis said to the best of his knowledge, none of his clients had been released from jail.

"I’ve heard from various people who are outside the prisons, trying to pick them up; things are tense," Pattis said. "Guards ordered people to leave in one location, armed with pepper ball guns, these are guards acted their peril at one point. The President’s order said to release these men immediately. Other guards are turning people away, saying come back tomorrow morning, we’ll get to them when we’re ready."

According to Paris, paperwork to release those incarcerated began before the president signed the pardons.

"Apparently, the executive branch gave the Bureau of Prisons a list of people to begin to process, and I think every hour that they hold them, exposes individual wardens and prisons to lawsuits," Pattis said. "I read the President’s order to say get them out immediately, why are they spending another night behind bars?

It’s important to note, rioters who plead guilty, or were found guilty, are still considered convicted criminals, but according to reports, the pardon forgives the offense and restores some rights – including the right to own a gun and vote.

By the numbers:

Of the more than 1,500 people charged, about 250 people have been convicted of crimes by a judge or a jury after a trial. 

Only two people were acquitted of all charges by judges after bench trials. No jury has fully acquitted a Capitol riot defendant. At least 1,020 had pleaded guilty to crimes as of Jan. 1.

More than 1,000 rioters have already been sentenced, with over 700 receiving at least some time behind bars. The rest were given some combination of probation, community service, home detention or fines. 

Among the 1,500, 140 defendants are from Florida, and 40 are from Central Florida.
 

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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the Office of the President, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and Florida attorney Norm Pattis. 

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