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US judge dismisses January 6 case against Proud Boys after Trump order
Al Jazeera • • nation
Key Points:
- A federal court dismissed seditious conspiracy charges against four Proud Boys members involved in the January 6 Capitol attack, following a government motion influenced by President Trump's executive order granting pardons and commutations to many defendants.
- Judge Timothy J. Kelly emphasized that the dismissal was based on separation of powers principles, not the merits of the case, and acknowledged the defendants had been convicted of serious offenses related to the attack.
- The January 6 attack was described as a dangerous assault on the Constitution and peaceful transfer of power, with significant violence and loss of life, leading to nearly 1,600 prosecutions under the Biden administration.
- Trump, who has defended the rioters and criticized their prosecution as government "weaponisation," fulfilled his 2024 campaign promise by pardoning most January 6 defendants and directing the Department of Justice to seek case dismissals.
- Judge Kelly warned that safeguarding American democracy requires bipartisan commitment to uphold constitutional processes, highlighting the ongoing challenge of preventing future attacks on the nation's self-government.
