Overview
- The Justice Department, which filed the motions Tuesday, asked the D.C. Circuit to vacate the verdicts and return the cases for dismissal with prejudice.
- The requests cover Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, Jessica Watkins, Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, Joseph Hackett and David Moerschel, plus Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola.
- Prosecutors cited 28 U.S.C. § 2106 and Federal Rule of Criminal Procedure 48(a), saying it is not in the interests of justice to continue these cases, and noted the defense did not oppose.
- If granted, the appeals court’s orders would erase the convictions and bar refiling, removing some of the most serious judgments from the Jan. 6 investigation.
- The request follows President Trump’s earlier pardons and commutations for most Jan. 6 defendants and drew praise from defense lawyers and sharp criticism from former prosecutors and victims.