The U.S. Department of Justice has confirmed the removal of press releases pertaining to criminal cases stemming from the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot from its official website. The agency characterized the previously published information regarding these prosecutions as ‘partisan propaganda.’
This deletion of news releases — which detailed criminal charges, convictions, and sentencings — represents the latest measure by the current administration to significantly reinterpret the narrative surrounding the assault on the Capitol. This event saw hundreds of supporters of former President Donald Trump storm the building in an attempt to disrupt the congressional certification of his 2020 election defeat to then-candidate Joe Biden.
Upon his return to office in January 2025, Trump issued pardons, commuted prison sentences, or pledged to dismiss the cases for over 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol assault. This included those convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers with improvised weapons such as flagpole, a hockey stick, and a crutch.
Furthermore, on Monday, the Justice Department announced the establishment of a $1.776 billion fund. This fund is intended to compensate individuals who are aligned with Trump and believe they were unfairly investigated and prosecuted. Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche has indicated that he has not ruled out the possibility of rioters convicted of violent acts being eligible for these payments, a stance that has drawn bipartisan condemnation in Congress.
The Department’s actions followed a journalist’s observation on the social media platform X last Friday, pointing out that the Justice Department was ‘quietly’ scrubbing its website of January 6th-related press releases. This included content about a Texas man who had pleaded guilty to assault and was also facing separate state charges for soliciting a minor. In response, the Department’s ‘rapid response’ account stated that there was ‘nothing “quiet” about it.’
“We are proud to reverse the DOJ’s weaponization under the Biden administration. We will do everything in our power to make whole those who were persecuted for political purposes,” the post elaborated. “This includes stripping DOJ’s website of partisan propaganda.”
Among the deleted releases were those detailing seditious conspiracy cases against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, both recognized as far-right extremist organizations. In an unopposed motion filed last month, the Justice Department requested a federal appeals court to overturn these seditious conspiracy convictions, a request that was granted on Thursday. The Department subsequently moved on Friday to dismiss the cases against these group members.
