Pardoned Jan. 6 Rioter Arrested Again After Courthouse Appearance

Bryan Betancur was arraigned on assault charges and then arrested in the parking lot on an unrelated warrant.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A man pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol was arraigned in Arlington, Virginia, on an assault and battery charge on Monday. After leaving the courthouse, he was then arrested in the parking lot on an outstanding warrant in a separate case.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing legal troubles faced by some of the individuals pardoned by Trump for their involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection, raising questions about the wisdom and consequences of those pardons.

The details

Bryan Betancur was arrested last week after allegedly touching several women on D.C. trains and posting videos of himself stroking their hair without consent. This is part of a pattern of predatory behavior that stretches back even before the Jan. 6 attack, as Betancur was wearing an ankle monitor when he stormed the U.S. Capitol, which he had been given after he broke into a Baltimore County elementary school. Federal prosecutors have also described Betancur as a "self-professed white supremacist" with a dream to be a "lone-wolf killer."

  • On Monday, Betancur was arraigned in Arlington, Virginia, on an assault and battery charge.
  • After leaving the courthouse, Betancur was arrested in the parking lot on an outstanding warrant in a separate case.

The players

Bryan Betancur

A man pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, who was recently arrested on assault charges and then arrested again in the courthouse parking lot on an unrelated warrant.

Donald Trump

The former President of the United States who pardoned Betancur and several other individuals for their involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

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What’s next

It is unclear if Betancur will face additional charges or consequences for his latest arrest, but his case highlights the ongoing legal troubles faced by some of the individuals pardoned by former President Trump for their involvement in the Jan. 6 insurrection.

The takeaway

This case raises serious questions about the wisdom and consequences of the pardons issued by former President Trump, as some of the individuals granted clemency have continued to engage in criminal and potentially dangerous behavior even after being released from legal jeopardy for their roles in the Capitol attack.