Donald Trump’s new pardon covers Dan Wilson’s separate firearm conviction
Washington: President Donald Trump has issued a second pardon for a militia member involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot who was imprisoned for illegal gun possession.
Trump initially pardoned Dan Wilson, a member of the far-right Oath Keepers group, along with 1,500 other rioters during his inauguration on January 21.
Wilson’s separate conviction for illegally possessing a firearm at his home in Kentucky was not initially covered by that pardon.
He received a five-year prison sentence and was scheduled for release in 2028.
Friday’s presidential order, seen by AFP, described the latest pardon as “complete and unconditional.”
Wilson’s lawyers George Pallas and Carroll Stewart said he was “relieved to be home with his loved ones” after seven months in prison.
He told US media, including Politico, that the pardon “not only restores their freedom but also shines a light on the excesses that have divided this country.”
The Trump administration argued in February that the initial pardon did not cover the firearms conviction because it was not related to the Capitol riot.
The Justice Department reversed its position weeks later and ruled that the pardon should apply to weapons crimes discovered during the FBI’s riot investigation.
Trump has repeatedly downplayed the Capitol riot, calling it a “day of love” and an “expression of affection.”
Hundreds of his supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. -AFP
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