Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioters Seek Clemency for New Charges, Including Murder Plot

Following pardons for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack, several defendants are facing new legal troubles. Andrew Taake, who was previously sentenced for assaulting police officers during the riot, was arrested again for a 2016 charge of online solicitation of a minor shortly after his release. Meanwhile, Edward Kelley, another pardoned rioter, was convicted of conspiring to murder FBI agents involved in investigating the Capitol incident, arguing that his pardon should cover this new charge as well. Other defendants are claiming similar immunity for additional crimes discovered during the January 6 investigations, including illegal gun possession and child pornography. The landscape remains tumultuous, as many former defendants have taken to social media to call out those involved in their prosecutions, seeking accountability. Federal agents have expressed concerns about potential retaliation from these pardoned individuals, complicating the aftermath of the riot and its legal repercussions.