DOJ says it scrubbed news releases about Jan. 6 criminal cases from its website
Washington — The Justice Department acknowledges removing press releases from its website about criminal cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, riot, calling news of prosecutions “partisan propaganda.”
The purge of press releases documenting criminal charges, convictions and sentences is the latest step by the Trump administration to revise the history of the storming of the Capitol, when hundreds of supporters of Republican President Trump stormed the building in an effort to prevent Congress’ certification of his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
Mr. Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025, pardoned, commuted prison sentences or promised to close the cases of all of the more than 1,500 people charged with crimes in the storming of the Capitol, including those convicted of attacking officers with makeshift weapons such as flagpoles, a hockey stick and a crutch.
On Monday, the Justice Department announced the creation of a $1.776 billion fund to compensate Trump allies who believe they have been unfairly investigated and prosecuted. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not exclude that rioters convicted of violence will be eligible for compensation, provoking bipartisan anger in Congress.
After a reporter observed on social media platform
“We are proud to have reversed the militarization of the DOJ under the Biden administration. We will do everything in our power to make amends for those who have been persecuted for political purposes,” the message said. “This includes removing partisan propaganda from the DOJ website.”
Among the releases removed from the site were those regarding seditious conspiracy cases against members of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, far-right extremist groups. The Justice Department, in an unopposed motion last month, asked a federal appeals court to overturn these seditious conspiracy convictionsa request that was granted on Thursday. The department decided Friday to dismiss charges against members of the group.
