Capitol Riots: Convicted Man Hopes Trump Will Secure His Release | US News
A man who was found guilty of being part of the Capitol riots on January 6 has expressed to Sky News his belief that Donald Trump will help secure his freedom.
Speaking from his Washington jail cell, Gregory Purdy stated that he expects the president-elect to “exonerate and pardon” him.
Mr. Trump has mentioned his plans to pardon “many” of the rioters, whom he refers to as “hostages.”
Over 1,100 individuals have been indicted in relation to the 2021 Capitol assault, where crowds invaded the building to obstruct the certification of Joe Biden‘s election victory.
To date, more than 500 individuals have received jail sentences. The riot resulted in five fatalities and 140 police officers sustaining injuries.
President Biden reignited the discussion about pardons when he granted one to his son, Hunter, covering a decade and including two felony convictions—one for illegal gun possession and another for tax evasion.
Supporters of those imprisoned for the January 6 events gather nightly outside a Washington DC jail for vigils, maintaining communication with inmates via phone from a street corner outside the facility.
Guy Reffitt (right) was the first person convicted of January 6 offences
‘He will exonerate us’
We utilized the phone to communicate with Gregory Purdy, who has been convicted of January 6 charges.
When asked about the possibility of a Trump pardon, he remarked: “He will exonerate and pardon us, I genuinely believe it will happen.”
“Regarding Joe Biden pardoning his son, I have no issue with him granting his son a pardon; rather, my concern is that he falsely claimed he wouldn’t,” he stated.
The scene of the riots at the Capitol on 6 January 2021. Pic: Reuters
Nicole Reffitt has participated in most of the 800+ vigils held outside the Washington prison. Her husband, Guy Reffitt, was the first individual convicted of crimes related to January 6.
According to prosecutors, the Texan father-of-three, associated with the “Three Percenters” militia group, “ignited the flame” of the insurrection.
The court learned he was armed with a handgun on Capitol grounds and had an automatic rifle in his vehicle. His son, Jackson, expressed concerns about his father to the FBI in the weeks leading up to January 6.
Nicole Reffitt
Nicole resides in a home located a short distance from the prison where her husband is incarcerated. The residence serves as a gathering place for families of January 6 prisoners visiting from across the nation for court dates and prison visits.
She and her housemates refer to the space as “eagle’s nest,” inspired by the national bird of the United States. She distances herself from comparisons made to Adolf Hitler’s “eagle’s nest,” his retreat in Bavaria.
“You can draw Hitler connotations with anything,” she remarked. “Avoid driving a Volkswagen, for example; the Nazis created that.”
Regarding the possibility of a pardon, Nicole stated to Sky News: “Not everyone will seek a pardon; many will request clemency… considering the numerous arguments raised in court, those must remain on record.”
Read more:
Trump plays blinder as accusers forced to turn blind eye to Capitol riots charges
Capitol riots: Conspiracies, misinformation and alternative truth
Upon Joe Biden granting a pardon to his son, Mr. Trump responded on social media: “Does the pardon granted by Joe to Hunter encompass the J-6 Hostages, who have now been imprisoned for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice.”
Discussing the ramifications for her husband and fellow inmates, Nicole Reffitt commented: “When you observe someone being pardoned for ten years of any criminal offenses that may have taken place—that’s very significant for the January Sixers, many of whom have no prior criminal records and this is their sole offense.”
