Judges Deliver Final Sentences for January 6 Rioters Ahead of Expected Trump Pardons

Federal judges emphasize accountability and the gravity of the Capitol attack as Trump signals potential pardons for those convicted.

Judges in Washington, D.C., issued what may be the last sentences for January 6 defendants before Donald Trump takes office and potentially grants pardons.
Judge Tanya Chutkan sentenced Brian Leo Kelly, a nonviolent rioter, to 10 days in jail but acknowledged he might never serve the sentence if pardoned.
More than 1,000 individuals have been sentenced for their roles in the Capitol attack, with charges ranging from misdemeanors to seditious conspiracy.
Kelley SoRelle, former Oath Keepers general counsel, received a one-year prison sentence for obstructing justice by encouraging the deletion of evidence.
Judges overseeing these cases highlighted the attack's impact on democracy and warned against attempts to rewrite the events of January 6.