Federal prosecutors are considering charging up to 200 additional individuals for their involvement in the January 6th attack on the Capitol, including 60 suspected of assaulting or impeding police officers. This comes as the Department of Justice (DOJ) released new data highlighting the scale of its investigation—the largest federal prosecution in U.S. history.
Expanding the Largest Federal Probe
The DOJ reports that 1,583 people have already faced federal charges, with over 600 charged with felonies such as assaulting police officers. An additional 180 defendants have been charged for carrying dangerous weapons on Capitol grounds, while 153 face charges for destroying government property.
Despite the scope, prosecutors have exercised discretion, declining charges in roughly 400 cases where individuals trespassed on Capitol grounds but did not enter the building. According to prosecutors, those charged typically committed multiple federal crimes, underscoring the seriousness of their actions.
Trump’s Role and Pardoning Pledge
The figures come as President-elect Donald Trump, who will soon take office, continues to mischaracterize the status of Jan. 6 cases while pledging to pardon those involved. Trump has frequently criticized the conditions at the D.C. jail, though the DOJ revealed that only 10 Jan. 6 defendants remain detained there, eight of whom are awaiting trial.
Trump’s pardon promise has become a rallying point, despite 1,100 convictions and sentencing already handed down. Around 300 pending cases—including 180 felonies—could complicate Trump’s efforts to intervene.
Looking Ahead
With the prospect of additional charges looming, the next phase of the DOJ’s investigation may test the boundaries of prosecutorial discretion amid political pressures. Whether Trump follows through on his sweeping pardon pledge will shape how the nation reckons with the fallout from January 6.
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