Trump forgives the veteran of the navy sentenced to Capitol Riot

By Michael Kunzelman, Associated Press

Washington (AP) – President Donald Trump has forgiven a Virginia whose sentence has already been commissioned for his convictions from January 6, 2021, Riot to the American Capitol.

Thomas Caldwell, a retired naval intelligence officer, was tried alongside the founder of the Stewart Rhodes oath to the seditious conspiracy – the most serious accusation brought the attack on January 6.

Caldwell’s forgiveness is dated March 20. Defense lawyer David Fischer said he had informed Caldwell of forgiveness on Monday after learning about this reports.

“And it is delighted,” added Fischer.

A jury condemned Caldwell for obstructing the congress and hindering justice for falsifying documents after the riot. One of these convictions was rejected in the light of a decision of the United States Supreme Court last year.

On January 10, the American district judge, Amit Mehta, sentenced Caldwell to the hour served without a supervised release. Prosecutors had recommended four years in prison for Caldwell.

Ten days later, during his first day in the White House, Trump delivered a leniency subsidy to all more than 1,500 people accused in the riot of the Capitol. Trump committed the sentences of several accused who were leaders and members of the oath guards or proud extremist groups of boys.

More than a dozen defendants have been found guilty of seditious conspiracy for what the prosecutors said they were violent conspiracies to keep Trump in power.

The prosecutors had allegedly allegedly at the trial that Caldwell had helped coordinate the “rapid reaction strength” teams, the prosecutors said that the oath guards parked outside the capital to put arms in the hands of the extremists if they were necessary. The weapons have never been deployed and the lawyers of the swearing guards said they were only there for defensive purposes in the event of attacks by left -wing activists.

But Caldwell, who did not enter the Capitol, took the position of the witness and played messages he sent before January 6, including a floating the idea of ​​bringing a boat to transport “heavy weapons” through the Potomac river. Caldwell said he was never serious about it, calling the “creative writing”.

Fischer said his client was “the first among the equals for forgiveness”.

“When a progressive Jury of DC acquired him from most accusations and a judge appointed by Obama condemns him to a purged time and a fine, I think he is sure to say that the government was mistaken,” said the lawyer.

The writer Associated Press Alanna Durkin Richer contributed to this report.

Originally published: March 31, 2025 at 11:31 pm Pdt