Some January 6 defendants were reportedly not released from a Washington, D.C. jail on Monday night, following President Donald Trump’s sweeping Executive Order offering full pardons, dismissals, or commutations to nearly all defendants.
A White House liaison showed up at the jail late Monday and said two brothers, Andrew Valentin, 26, and Matthew Valentin, 31, had been released, per Trump’s order.
However, people gathered outside the jail said there were other defendants still inside:
In a somewhat bizarre scene just now, a person saying he’s a liaison from the White House came to the DC Jail and announced that the January 6 pardon releases here occurred, but that only two people came out.
Confusing situation as dozens more presumably inside. pic.twitter.com/q5QTPKkMC1
— Ford Fischer (@FordFischer) January 21, 2025
A possible explanation was posted on X by WUSA 9 investigative reporter Jordan Fischer. Basically, Trump’s order gave full pardons to almost everyone convicted of J6-related crimes. However, if someone is in jail and still awaiting trial, their case, per the order, will be dismissed. The dismissal of such cases could take longer to process, according to Fischer.
“Trump’s order pardoned people *convicted* of crimes related to Jan. 6.