Trump’s justice department scrubs its website of news releases about January 6 defendants | US Capitol attack
The Justice Department acknowledges that it has removed press releases from its website regarding criminal cases related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, 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 dramatically rewrite the history of the assault on the U.S. Capitol, when hundreds of Donald Trump supporters stormed the building in an effort to prevent Congress’ certification of his 2020 election defeat to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump, on his first day back in office in January 2025, pardoned, commuted prison sentences or promised to dismiss the cases of more than 1,500 people accused of 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 has not ruled out that rioters convicted of violence would be eligible for compensation, sparking the anger of both parties in Congress.
After a reporter observed on social media platform
“We are proud to reverse the trend [justice department’s] militarization under the Biden administration. We will do everything in our power to free those who have been persecuted for political purposes,” the message said. [the justice department’s] partisan propaganda site.
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 those seditious conspiracy convictions, a request that was granted Thursday. The department decided Friday to dismiss charges against members of the group.
