Trump Administration Moves to Vacate Jan. 6 Convictions

The president's second term has seen a concerted effort to reframe the public's perception of the Capitol attack.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 3:27pm

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A serene, photorealistic painting of an American flag pole standing alone on a deserted city street, the pole's shadow stretching across the pavement in the warm, angled sunlight, conveying a sense of solemnity and nostalgia.The Trump administration's moves to vacate Jan. 6 convictions reflect a broader effort to reshape the public's perception of the Capitol attack.Philadelphia Today

Since returning to the White House, the Trump administration has taken a series of actions to try to rewrite the narrative around the January 6th, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. This includes granting pardons to many of those charged, seeking to vacate remaining convictions, and launching efforts to re-examine the 2020 election results.

Why it matters

The administration's moves to undo the legal consequences for the Capitol attack are seen by critics as a dangerous undermining of the rule of law and an attempt to whitewash the events of that day. It raises concerns about the potential for further political interference in the justice system.

The details

The Justice Department has filed motions to vacate the convictions of 12 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the Capitol riot. Prosecutors cited Trump's previous pardons and commutations of Jan. 6 defendants, saying it was 'not in the interests of justice' to continue these prosecutions. The administration has also taken aim at the federal government's broader approach to the Capitol attack, firing attorneys who worked on Jan. 6 cases and backing efforts to dismiss other related convictions.

  • In his second term, which began in 2025, President Trump has accelerated efforts to reframe the events of Jan. 6, 2021.
  • Earlier this year, the White House unveiled a website that cast the Capitol rioters as 'unfairly targeted' and claimed the 2020 election was 'fraud-ridden'.
  • This week, the Justice Department moved to vacate the convictions of 12 Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members related to the Capitol attack.

The players

Donald Trump

The former president who was re-elected in 2024 and has made reframing the narrative around the Capitol attack a priority in his second term.

Jeanine Pirro

The U.S. Attorney in Washington, D.C. who filed the motions to vacate the convictions of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members.

Zach Rehl

The former leader of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys who was among those convicted for his role in the Capitol riot.

Jamie Raskin

The Democratic Congressman from Maryland who condemned the Justice Department's move to vacate the Jan. 6 convictions.

Ashli Babbitt

The Trump supporter who was shot and killed by police during the Capitol attack and has become a martyr figure among some of the former president's base.

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What they’re saying

“This is an appalling and dangerous turn of events.”

— Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member, House Judiciary Committee

“When a jury renders a verdict … it is a strong signal that not only did we get the law right, and the facts right, but we actually convinced 12 members.”

— Anonymous, Former Prosecutor

“It needs to be crystal clear, it's not patriotism, it's not standing up for America, it's not free speech to descend violently on the Capitol at the urging of a disappointed candidate.”

— Amy Berman Jackson, U.S. District Judge

What’s next

The Justice Department's motions to vacate the convictions are likely to be granted, as prosecutors have wide latitude to decide what charges to pursue or abandon. This would clear the way for the administration to dismiss the indictments against the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's concerted effort to undo the legal consequences for the January 6th attack on the Capitol represents a troubling attempt to rewrite the history of that day and undermine the rule of law. It raises concerns about the potential for further political interference in the justice system and the lasting damage it could do to public trust.