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Pardoned Jan. 6 Defendants from Pennsylvania: A Range of Emotions, From Remorseful to Defiant

On January 6, 2021, the U.S. Capitol was stormed by individuals with a range of motives. Among those involved were numerous Pennsylvanians, some of whom faced serious charges. But with the January 20 pardon from former President Donald Trump, many are now walking free. The reactions to this newfound freedom vary drastically—some express deep remorse, while others remain defiant, standing by their actions.

The Outrageous Attack and Its Fallout

It’s hard to forget the violent scenes that unfolded on January 6, 2021, as rioters attempted to halt the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden. But what’s even more difficult to digest is the diversity of people involved in the chaos. Pennsylvania, a state pivotal in the 2020 election, was not immune to this unrest.

At least 110 individuals from Pennsylvania were charged in connection to the attack on the Capitol. The state comes in third, behind Texas and Florida, in terms of the number of residents involved. For many of these people, this moment wasn’t just about a misguided protest—it was about defiance and forcefully rejecting a legitimate election result. For others, it was a moment of deep regret.

One of the most well-known figures involved is Robert Sanford. A 27-year veteran of the Chester fire department, Sanford threw a fire extinguisher at a line of Capitol police officers. The act injured two officers, who were already overwhelmed by the tide of rioters. Sanford’s involvement in the violence stood out as particularly vicious, and it set the tone for the kind of lawlessness that characterized the day.

Riley June Williams, 22, is another example. Williams entered the Capitol and led a group of rioters straight to Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. Once inside, she brazenly stole Pelosi’s laptop and gavel, posting her actions on social media for the world to see. Her actions didn’t just defy the law—they mocked the very fabric of the American political system.

Pennsylvania defendants January 6 Capitol riot

Trump’s Last-Minute Pardons and the Range of Reactions

On January 20, after being sworn in as president, Joe Biden inherited the legal fallout from Trump’s tumultuous presidency, which included a large number of individuals charged or convicted for their involvement in the January 6 attack. However, before leaving office, Trump issued a blanket pardon for more than 1,500 people convicted or charged with crimes related to the Capitol riot.

This move has been controversial, to say the least. Trump’s pardons didn’t just free people—it allowed them to walk away from crimes with no remorse or consequence. But not all of the Pennsylvania defendants got a free pass.

Perhaps the most notable case of a defendant not receiving a pardon is Zach Rehl, the leader of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys. Along with his national counterpart Enrique Tarrio and several others, Rehl was convicted of seditious conspiracy—a rarely used charge. Sentenced to 15 years in prison, Rehl’s case represents the seriousness of the Capitol insurrection. Despite Trump’s sweeping pardons, Rehl, like several others, was left to serve his sentence.

For many of those granted pardons, their reactions vary dramatically. Some are eager to move forward with their lives, no longer carrying the weight of a criminal conviction. Others, however, maintain that they did nothing wrong on January 6, and they wear their actions as a badge of honor.

Gary Wickersham, a West Chester, Pa., resident, was one of those granted a pardon. At 81 years old during the Capitol attack, Wickersham has no regrets about his participation. He told the Capital-Star that he felt the pardons were “great” and that he had no qualms about his actions on that fateful day. Wickersham’s story is as much about defiance as it is about remorse. A former Army paratrooper, he made his way to Washington, D.C., by bus on January 6, driven by the promise of President Trump’s speech. When he reached the Capitol, he climbed the scaffolding and walked into the building.

For Wickersham, the Capitol breach wasn’t a moment of reflection. He didn’t second-guess his actions, nor did he express remorse in the same way some others have.

A Mixed Bag of Sentiments from Pardoned Defendants

While Wickersham’s stance on the pardon may come off as defiant, others feel a different way. Some defendants who were pardoned express true regret for their involvement, acknowledging that they made a grave mistake in aligning themselves with the rioters. They claim that they were swept up in the chaos, but they now understand the consequences of what they did.

This group of defendants views the pardon as a chance to move forward, to rebuild their lives and to regain trust in a country they momentarily disrespected. They see their actions as the result of a turbulent time but are now ready to make amends. This contrasts sharply with the more defiant reactions seen from others, like Wickersham.

The spectrum of emotions among the pardoned defendants from Pennsylvania—from remorse to defiance—highlights the complicated nature of the Capitol riot and the aftermath. While some are keen to turn the page and get back to their normal lives, others are unapologetic, refusing to accept responsibility for their part in a direct attack on democracy.

The Impact of the Pardon: Looking Ahead

As these pardoned defendants return to their lives, many questions remain about the long-term impact of the Capitol attack on both the individuals involved and the country as a whole. What message does it send when people who were part of one of the most violent events in American history are now free to go about their lives without facing the full consequences of their actions?

What does it mean for the rest of the country when a large number of people, many of whom were involved in violent acts, receive pardons that imply their actions were, in some way, justified?

The debate surrounding Trump’s pardon decisions will likely continue for years to come. For now, the pardoned individuals, especially those from Pennsylvania, are left to grapple with their new realities—whether that involves remorse, defiance, or a combination of both.

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