U.S. Prosecutor Launches Investigation into DOJ’s January 6 Cases

January 28, 2025 TruthUSA

The investigation will explore the rationale behind prosecutors filing felony charges against a large number of individuals.

On January 27, a U.S. prosecutor announced an inquiry into the reasons federal prosecutors charged hundreds of participants in the January 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol breach with felony obstruction.

Ed Martin, the interim U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, instructed his staff in an internal email to review the situation by gathering files, emails, and various documents.

In the email, Martin expressed that the application of the obstruction charge was “a significant failure of our office.” He requested that supervisors submit a preliminary report on the issue by Friday.

“We must uncover the truth,” Martin stated. He dubbed the initiative the “1512 Project,” referencing the specific section of law under which the offense falls.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia, part of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), did not provide additional information when requested.

Section 1512 of U.S. law prohibits any person from obstructing, influencing, or impeding any official proceeding, or attempting to do so, with potential prison sentences reaching up to 20 years.

Approximately 260 individuals who were present in and around the Capitol on January 6 have faced charges for obstructing an official proceeding.

Joseph Fischer, a former police officer among the charged, contested the obstruction charge in court. This challenge led to a U.S. Supreme Court decision that determined prosecutors had misapplied the law.

“According to the Government’s interpretation, Section 1512(c) consists of a specific subsection (c)(1) regarding obstructive acts affecting evidence, and a broader subsection (c)(2) encompassing all other forms of obstruction,” wrote Chief Justice John Roberts for the majority. “Disregarding any superfluous language, that novel interpretation would criminalize a vast range of ordinary conduct, exposing both activists and lobbyists to decades of imprisonment.”

Prior to Donald Trump’s presidency, the government withdrew the charges or sought to vacate them against most defendants or convicted individuals.

Trump granted pardons to approximately 1,500 individuals charged in connection with January 6.

Since assuming his role in the U.S. attorney’s office following Trump’s inauguration, Martin has consistently requested judges to dismiss charges against January 6 defendants, citing the presidential executive order.

His request in the case of Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, along with some co-defendants, led a judge to lift travel restrictions ordered earlier.

Martin, who was present at Trump’s rally near the Capitol on January 6, has served on the board of the Patriot Freedom Project, which aims to support January 6 defendants and their families through fundraising. He is also named in legal documents as an attorney for at least three defendants, one of whom has pleaded guilty to felony charges.

In his blog, Martin has commented on the events of January 6, stating that he has reviewed thousands of hours of footage from that day.

“After watching for a while, it becomes evident that 99.9% of the activity was normal individuals engaging in routine behavior: wandering around the Capitol grounds and building,” he noted.

Alexis Loeb, the deputy chief of the DOJ section handling January 6 prosecutions prior to her departure from the government in 2024, expressed concerns that Martin seems to be fulfilling his role “primarily to carry out the president’s political goals rather than prioritizing public safety in Washington.”

Several individuals charged in connection with January 6 have expressed gratitude towards Martin. One person posted on X, stating she can now begin the next chapter of her life with a sense of relief.

“My honor. Thank God for that and not men,” responded Martin .

It remains uncertain whether Trump plans to nominate Martin for a permanent position, which would necessitate Senate confirmation. A spokesperson from the White House did not immediately reply to a message regarding Martin on Monday.

This report includes contributions from the Associated Press.

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