US judge bans some January 6 rioters from capital without court permission

A United States federal judge has barred several high-profile figures who took part in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, from entering Washington, DC, without court permission, as a condition of their release from prison.

On Friday, Judge Amit Mehta of the US District Court for the District of Columbia issued the ruling, which applies to Stewart Rhodes, the former leader of the far-right Oath Keepers group, and seven others.

According to Mehta’s order, “You must not knowingly enter the District of Columbia without first obtaining the Court’s consent.”

Following President Donald Trump’s controversial decision to pardon nearly all of the 1, 583 people who were accused of participating in the US Capitol attack in 2021, the president made the controversial decision.

On January 6 of that year, Trump supporters attacked law enforcement and stormed the building in an effort to overturn the Republican’s loss in the 2020 election. The Electoral College’s certification was forcibly halted, and legislators retreated.

Rhodes, who had been given an 18-year sentence, was one of 14 defendants who saw Trump commute their sentences, rather than receiving a full pardon. Commutations lower a defendant’s potential punishment rather than exonerate them.

In the first few hours of his second term, Trump made the announcements regarding the pardons and commutations on Monday. A day later, Rhodes was released from prison.

Then, on Wednesday, he visited the US Capitol to meet at least one lawmaker, according to The Associated Press. On January 6, Rhodes reportedly had conversations with other officials and defended his actions, according to the news agency.

“I’m only guilty of opposing those who are destroying the country”, Rhodes told reporters, echoing Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was stolen through massive fraud. Because we were aware that the election had been rigged, we fought for our country. Biden did not get 81 million votes”.

Experts worry that political violence could be legitimized by the pardons.

Enrique Tarrio, a former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, was one of those who received pardons after receiving a 22-year prison sentence for a seditious conspiracy and other offenses.

Since his release and return to his home in Florida, Tarrio has made a media appearance on the far-right outlet Infowars, promising “retribution”.

“The people who did this, they need to feel the heat”, Tarrio said. “They need to be put behind bars, and they need to be prosecuted”.

Trump has suggested that lawmakers who are a part of a congressional investigation into the Capitol attack should themselves be subject to investigation. He has heavily leaned into the rhetoric of retribution and vengeance.

He also mentioned “military tribunals” and potential criminal prosecution for treason.