Trump pardons Jan. 6 rioter Thomas Caldwell after commuting sentence
Former President Donald Trump granted a pardon to Thomas caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This decision follows Trump’s commutation of Caldwell’s sentence on his first day in office, amid a broader clemency initiative for numerous individuals charged in connection with the riots. Caldwell had previously been acquitted of seditious conspiracy but served 53 days in jail due to othre charges. He was associated with the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group, which has been linked to the events of January 6. Caldwell’s pardon reflects ongoing discussions within Trump’s circle about extending clemency to those convicted related to the Capitol incident.
Trump pardons Jan. 6 rioter Thomas Caldwell after previously commuting sentence
President Donald Trump on Monday pardoned Thomas Caldwell, a retired Navy intelligence officer who participated in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Trump previously commuted Caldwell’s sentence on his first day in office when he issued mass clemency for at least 1,583 defendants charged for their actions during the riot.
In early January, Caldwell, a Berryville, Virginia, resident, was acquitted by a jury of seditious conspiracy and two other conspiracy offenses but was sentenced to 53 days in jail and fined $100.
He was also previously found guilty of two felony counts, but one was dropped after the Supreme Court limited a federal obstruction law used against Jan. 6 defendants in June 2024.
Caldwell was arrested in January 2021 for actions at the Jan. 6 riot and spent more than 50 days in jail. An FBI special agent claimed at the time that Caldwell “appears to have a leadership role” within the Oath Keepers, a right-wing militia-type group.
Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes was among the 14 defendants also accused of seditious conspiracy and was found guilty and sentenced to 18 years. He later received a commutation from Trump.
PRESIDENTIAL PARDON MEANS FIFTH AMENDMENT TROUBLE FOR HUNTER BIDEN
At last month’s Conservative Political Action Conference, Rhodes and other Jan. 6 participants told the Washington Examiner they were grateful for the commutations but wanted the president to go further and issue a full pardon.
“I need my veterans benefits restored,” Rhodes said. “I got a really nasty letter from the VA saying that because of my conviction … I’m a disabled vet, but they said I have no longer any right to any disability payments or healthcare, or I can no longer be buried in a veteran cemetery, which is a really horrific insult to a veteran. So I want my rights back, my right to bear arms back. In Texas, where I’m from, I can’t vote.”
Hailey Bullis contributed to this report.
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