Trump Administration Seeks to Overturn January 6 Convictions

0:00It's April 16th. This is California News Today, AI-powered stories from your city. I'm Cory with the story. The Trump administration just filed court papers to wipe out seditious conspiracy convictions for key January 6 defendants from the Oath Keepers, and proud boys, including Founder Stewart Rhodes. These guys got sentence commutations but not full partings when Trump came back, and now the Justice Department calls this move in the interest of, justice. Earlier this week, the filing hit amid big shifts at the DOJ under Trump's second term. Prosecutors during the Biden years nailed these leaders on the rare charge, seeing the capital attack as a major threat to democracy with sentences. Up to 18 years for Rhodes. Defendants are popping champagne on mine. Proud Boys' Zachary Rowe, who drew 15 years, posted he's beyond thrilled. Ed Martin, the U.S. pardon attorney, with Trump DOJ ties, hailed it as a win and pushed for more relief, like financial payback for those he says God, wronged. Judges back then called

1:01these folks ongoing dangers, playing tapes of Rhodes regretting not bringing rifles. Trump flips the script, dubbing January 6th, a day of love, and claiming his supporters were the real victims. Acting AG Todd Blanch boasts about the mass pardon as a top achievement. Meanwhile, some pardon rioters face fresh charges, like one guy pleading guilty to child sex abuse the same day. This DOJ pivot shows fortunes flipping fast for those convicted in the attack that hurt 140 cops.