Overview
- U.S. District Judge James Boasberg directed the government to return about $570 each to Cynthia Ballenger and Christopher Price for restitution and fees.
- Boasberg reversed a July denial after noting that Trump’s pardons mooted the couple’s pending appeals, prompting the D.C. Circuit to vacate their misdemeanor convictions.
- He emphasized that pardons do not by themselves require repayment, but vacatur nullifies the judgments and triggers refunds.
- Addressing sovereign-immunity and appropriations questions, Boasberg said courts that can impose payments can also order them reversed.
- The decision followed Trump’s sweeping pardons for roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants and drew criticism from some Republicans, including calls to impeach Boasberg.