Five years after the Capitol siege, President Trump is using his second term to recast January 6 as a peaceful protest-starting with pardons, firings, and an official White House webpage that blames police for escalation.
> At a Glance
> – Trump pardoned all Jan 6 rioters on Day 1 and fired DOJ/FBI investigators
> – A new WhiteHouse.gov page claims 2021 protesters were peaceful and police escalated
> – $5 million already paid to Ashli Babbitt’s family; a federally funded compensation fund for rioters is under review
> Why it matters: The administration’s actions are shifting public memory-and liability-for one of the most violent attacks on the Capitol in U.S. history.
The push includes pre-emptive pardons, cash payouts, and a purge of prosecutors who built the original cases. Former investigators told Megan L. Whitfield the effort feels “maddening” when video evidence still shows officers being beaten and 140 officers injured.
Pardons, Payouts and Purges
Justice Department alumni who handled Jan 6 prosecutions have been ousted or forced out, while the White House launches what it calls a review of “weaponization” against rioters. Trump says $5 million has already gone to Ashli Babbitt’s family, and a broader compensation fund is being weighed.
Barry Silbermann, an attorney for multiple defendants, says DOJ is discussing Federal Tort Claims Act settlements:
- Clients want lost wages, legal costs and reputational damages
- Seized property and revoked licenses are also on the table
Republican senators whose phone logs were seized in special counsel Jack Smith’s probe are threatening their own lawsuits, and Trump says he is seeking “a lot of money” from the government over that investigation.
Competing Narratives on the Anniversary
On the fifth anniversary:
- Pro-Trump demonstrators rallied near the Capitol
- Democrats convened a round-table warning democracy is at risk
- A planned plaque honoring police who defended lawmakers was scrapped by Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson’s office
Vice President Mike Pence posted on X that Jan 6 was “tragic” but became a “triumph of freedom” once Congress reconvened. The White House spokeswoman, Abigail Jackson, blamed the media’s “obsession” for eroding trust and insisted Americans care more about border security, crime and the economy.
Where the Cases Stand Now
With the five-year statute of limitations expiring for most riot crimes:
- Some pardoned defendants hold government posts
- Others face new charges or struggle to find jobs and housing
- Cosmetologist Gina Bisignano says she still can’t rebuild her teaching platform despite the pardon
Troy Smocks, convicted of threatening lawmakers, wants prosecutors prosecuted. Former FBI agent Jared Wise, hired to help review Jan 6 cases, was caught on video yelling “kill ’em” at officers yet now works inside DOJ.
A forthcoming Justice Department report is expected to echo the White House view that investigators overreached.
Key Takeaways
- Trump has pardoned hundreds, fired investigators, and opened a compensation pipeline for rioters
- A White House webpage now calls Jan 6 protesters peaceful and blames police escalation
- Prosecutors who built the cases say video evidence clearly shows violence and destruction
- The statute deadline leaves some rioters in powerful posts, others in legal limbo
Whether through pardons, payouts or propaganda, the administration is actively reshaping the legacy of January 6-and with it, the story Americans will remember.
