Tom Dreisbach

Well, federal judges always factor in defendants' criminal history when they decide on a sentence. One example, defendant was Peter Schwartz. Court records indicate he had 38 criminal convictions before he assaulted police with pepper spray on January 6th. And that's one reason he got a really lengthy sentence, 14 years in prison for his January 6th charges.

And then Trump pardoned him, so he obviously did not finish that prison sentence. Trump has said, in general, these defendants got sentences that were too long But the White House did not make any distinction between people who had a criminal record and those who did not.

And then Trump pardoned him, so he obviously did not finish that prison sentence. Trump has said, in general, these defendants got sentences that were too long But the White House did not make any distinction between people who had a criminal record and those who did not.

And then Trump pardoned him, so he obviously did not finish that prison sentence. Trump has said, in general, these defendants got sentences that were too long But the White House did not make any distinction between people who had a criminal record and those who did not.

When I reached out to the White House, they did not respond. But Trump has made some comments recently on Fox News where he seemed to say that it would have just been too difficult to evaluate all of the January 6th charges individually.

When I reached out to the White House, they did not respond. But Trump has made some comments recently on Fox News where he seemed to say that it would have just been too difficult to evaluate all of the January 6th charges individually.

When I reached out to the White House, they did not respond. But Trump has made some comments recently on Fox News where he seemed to say that it would have just been too difficult to evaluate all of the January 6th charges individually.

Yes. There's an example of a January 6th defendant named Theodore Middendorf. He separately pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a seven-year-old child. He is still facing a lengthy prison sentence in Illinois on that case. Another defendant, David Daniel, is facing allegations that he sexually abused two young girls in his family and possessed child sexual abuse images. He has pleaded not guilty.

Yes. There's an example of a January 6th defendant named Theodore Middendorf. He separately pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a seven-year-old child. He is still facing a lengthy prison sentence in Illinois on that case. Another defendant, David Daniel, is facing allegations that he sexually abused two young girls in his family and possessed child sexual abuse images. He has pleaded not guilty.

Yes. There's an example of a January 6th defendant named Theodore Middendorf. He separately pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a seven-year-old child. He is still facing a lengthy prison sentence in Illinois on that case. Another defendant, David Daniel, is facing allegations that he sexually abused two young girls in his family and possessed child sexual abuse images. He has pleaded not guilty.

That case is ongoing. That is NPR's Tom Dreisbach.

That case is ongoing. That is NPR's Tom Dreisbach.

That case is ongoing. That is NPR's Tom Dreisbach.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Right. So almost every single defendant got a full unconditional pardon. That means their conviction is forgiven. If they're locked up, they get released. If they were convicted of a felony, they get their gun rights back. And that group includes more than 400 people charged or convicted of violent assaults on law enforcement, driving a stun gun into an officer's necks, for example.

Right. So almost every single defendant got a full unconditional pardon. That means their conviction is forgiven. If they're locked up, they get released. If they were convicted of a felony, they get their gun rights back. And that group includes more than 400 people charged or convicted of violent assaults on law enforcement, driving a stun gun into an officer's necks, for example.

Right. So almost every single defendant got a full unconditional pardon. That means their conviction is forgiven. If they're locked up, they get released. If they were convicted of a felony, they get their gun rights back. And that group includes more than 400 people charged or convicted of violent assaults on law enforcement, driving a stun gun into an officer's necks, for example.

beating officers with a bat. And then just 14 people are getting these commutations. So they still have a felony on the record, but they are getting out of prison. And all of those people are linked to the far-right groups involved in January 6th, the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. Most of that group were convicted of seditious conspiracy.