A number of the J6 defendants are hoping that Trump coming into office is going to help their case.
Trump has been adamant that he plans on offering pardons for a majority of the defendants from the January 6 riot at the Capitol.
In one case, a defendant asked the judge to delay the case until Trump gets into office, but that motion has been squashed by the judge.
Denied
Christopher Carnell was hoping that Trump’s promise would have been enough of a reason for the judge to delay the case.
His attorney wrote, “The Court has asked the parties to present status arguments on Nov. 8, 2024, but as of today, Mr. Carnell is now awaiting further information from the Office of the President-elect regarding the timing and expected scope of clemency actions relevant to his case.”
The initial request has been denied, so the trial will move forward as planned.
Even though Trump has promised pardons, he will have to be selective in who he offers pardons for in these cases.
For instance, anyone convicted on insurrection or sedition charges is more than likely going to remain in prison.
The same can be said for those who were proven to have injured police during the riot, or that damaged property.
Due to the 14th Amendment, Trump would put his presidency at risk if he pardoned anyone convicted of insurrection or a derivative.
Anyone who participated in insurrection or provided aid and/or comfort to such a person is no longer eligible to hold any elected office in this country.
Lawmakers would interpret a pardon for an insurrectionist as aid and comfort, so Trump needs to avoid those cases at all costs.
Trump really backed himself into a corner on this because when he pardons J6 defendants, Dems and the media are going to hammer him.
However, when he does not pardon everyone, he will take a hit from those who said that he promised to pardon J6 defendants.
Trump would have been far better served never to have mentioned this, then dropped the pardons on the way out the door when it could not hurt the party in 2028.
