Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters Enter GOP Politics as Heroes/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Pardoned by President Donald Trump, some Jan. 6 rioters are re-entering public life as political figures and GOP speakers. Once convicted, they now receive support from local Republican groups, with some even launching campaigns. Their rise reflects a dramatic shift in political norms.
Pardoned Rioters Rise in GOP Politics — Quick Look
- Trump pardoned 1,500 Jan. 6 participants upon returning to office.
- Figures like Ryan Kelley now eye higher office, including governorships.
- Local GOP events feature rioters as “heroes”, with standing ovations.
- Pardonees explore congressional and Senate bids, including Enrique Tarrio.
- Historians warn of political violence normalization, amid rising acceptance.
- Public backlash forces some event cancellations, especially in California.
- Critics call this “dangerous distortion of history,” citing rule-of-law erosion.
- Polls show growing support among Trump base for these political figures.
Deep Look: Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters Recast as GOP Candidates and Martyrs
Deep Looks
JACKSON, Mich. (April 19, 2025) —
Once facing political ruin, several individuals convicted in connection to the January 6 Capitol riot are being recast as heroes within parts of the Republican Party. Following President Donald Trump’s sweeping pardon of over 1,500 people involved in the insurrection, many are now enjoying a political renaissance — appearing at GOP events, launching campaigns, and receiving standing ovations.
Among them is Ryan Kelley, a Michigan real estate developer and former gubernatorial candidate. After finishing fourth in the 2022 GOP primary, Kelley’s fortunes reversed when Trump pardoned his misdemeanor conviction for unlawfully entering Capitol grounds. At a recent Jackson County GOP event, Kelley introduced himself as “your favorite J6er,” prompting cheers, hugs, and encouragement to run again in 2026.
“I was a political prisoner for standing up for what I believe was right,” Kelley declared, drawing applause from a crowd that dismissed the Capitol breach as little more than a “scuffle.”
But the events of January 6, 2021, were far more violent. Hundreds of police officers were injured in the attack, which saw rioters armed with bats and bear spray storm Congress in an effort to overturn the 2020 election results. Despite this, within certain GOP factions, many now view the convicted as “patriots” persecuted for supporting Trump.
Historians and analysts warn that elevating these individuals distorts the facts and legitimizes political violence.
“This represents a dangerous shift — mainstreaming actions meant to disrupt democracy,” said Matt Dallek, a conservative movement historian at George Washington University.
Kelley isn’t alone in leveraging his pardon into a platform. Other convicted rioters, such as Ronald McAbee and James Grant, are making appearances at local GOP fundraisers and club meetings, sometimes under banners like “Patriots Vindicated.” Their speeches often include conspiratorial claims, defiance, and criticism of the justice system.
McAbee, a former sheriff’s deputy convicted of assaulting officers, spoke to a women’s Republican group in Tennessee and hinted at running for office. Grant, who attacked police and entered the Capitol through a broken window, shared similar sentiments in North Carolina, blaming undercover agents and decrying jail conditions.
Even high-profile figures like Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader, are eyeing political futures. Tarrio, who was serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy before his pardon, told Newsmax he may run for office in 2026 or 2028. Jake Lang, another pardoned rioter, has already declared a Senate campaign in Florida.
This wave of activity follows a larger trend: Trump-aligned political groups are mobilizing around themes of retribution and victimization, weaponizing these narratives for political gain and fundraising. Some events, however, have met resistance. In California, intense backlash forced the relocation of a GOP event featuring six pardoned rioters. Protesters condemned what they described as “rebranding violence.”
Legal experts say Trump’s pardons, though legal, challenge foundational democratic norms. “We must agree that rule of law and elections matter,” said David Becker, a former DOJ lawyer. “Glorifying insurrection risks much darker consequences.”
Still, for the growing number of Republican voters who believe the 2020 election was stolen, these figures represent courage rather than criminality. Kelley, weighing another gubernatorial run, sees the opportunity as fleeting.
“Now is kind of the time that I could catapult with that,” he said.
You must Register or Login to post a comment.