Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump charged for their roles in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol are looking to put their legal cases on hold, banking on the possibility of presidential pardons once Trump reclaims the Oval Office. Among them is 21-year-old Christopher Carnell of North Carolina, who was found guilty of felony and misdemeanor charges earlier this year due to his involvement in the Capitol breach.
Carnell’s legal team has formally requested that D.C. District Judge Beryl Howell delay a status hearing, citing Trump’s pledges to offer clemency to nonviolent January 6 participants during his campaign.
“Throughout his campaign, President-elect Trump made multiple clemency promises to the January 6 defendants, particularly to those who were nonviolent participants,” stated Carnell’s attorneys in their motion. Carnell, who was only 18 years old at the time he entered the Capitol, is hoping that Trump’s return to office will lead to the dismissal of his criminal case.
In anticipation of potential clemency, Carnell’s lawyers have reached out to Trump’s office for clarity on the timing and scope of any forthcoming pardon actions that might impact his legal situation. Trump’s campaign rhetoric has consistently indicated a willingness to support nonviolent January 6 defendants.
Meanwhile, federal prosecutors in Washington, D.C., remain steadfast in pursuing legal action against those involved in the Capitol attack, arresting and prosecuting individuals linked to violent confrontations with law enforcement during the chaos. While Trump’s potential return to the presidency has fueled speculation that these investigations may be scaled back or even halted, the future of these cases remains in legal limbo.
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