Washington — Some of the defendants accused of being part of the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol are now asking the courts for permission to return to Washington, DC, on January 20 to attend the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Many of the roughly 1,600 people who have been charged with felonies or misdemeanors for their alleged roles in the Jan. 6 attack have been placed under court orders restricting their travel to and from the capital. But some have said they should be allowed to return for the inauguration, arguing they are not a threat to public safety.
In a court filing On Monday, the Justice Department argued against allowing defendant Christopher Belliveau to attend the inauguration. “The last organized event the defendant attended in Washington, DC, turned into a full-scale riot. This was the scene of his charged crime, a violent crime that contributed to the disruption of the peaceful transition of power,” federal prosecutors wrote.
“The most compelling reason to deny Belliveau’s motion is that allowing his travel to Washington, DC endangers Capitol Police officers,” prosecutors added. “Belliveau argues that his lack of a violent past warrants a modification of his release conditions. But this makes his return to the Capitol even more troubling: Belliveau was only willing to engage in violence against police officers in the Capitol trying to keep a crowd of rioters under control.”
Belliveau is accused of deploying bear spray on police during the attack on the Capitol and has pleaded not guilty. He has submitted his request to attend the inauguration. Belliveau’s lawyers argued, “It is also vital to remember that while Mr. Belliveau is charged, he is presumed innocent, so the mere fact that he is charged does not suggest that he is inherently more dangerous than anyone else.”
Defendant Cindy Young, who was found guilty of four criminal charges during the trial in August, has also requested permission to travel to Washington for the festivities. in her archiving on Dec. 11, Young’s attorney said he has “fulfilled his conditions of release” for “over a year.”
“He poses no threat of danger to the community and is not a flight risk. He was allowed to travel to Washington, DC several times, including to the Capitol building while preparing for trial, and there were no incidents ” Young’s attorney said. .
But the prosecutors opposite Young’s request. Writing in response a week later, the Justice Department said Young “has continually supported calls for retribution against those involved in the January 6 prosecutions, specifically juries, judges and law enforcement, all of whom help form the DC community.” They wrote that Young “has also mocked the victims of officers,” many of whom “will, once again, be tasked with protecting the Capitol and the Constitution on January 20, 2025.” The judge has not ruled on Young’s request.
William Pope, a Jan. 6 defendant who is serving as a defense attorney, also requested permission to attend the inauguration. In a archiving On Saturday, Pope said: “I am now asking the Court for permission to travel to Washington, DC for the purpose of attending the presidential inauguration on January 20, 2025. I had initially declined an invitation to attend the inauguration (as (no I don’t like being in Washington), but now I’ve been asked a second time and I think it would be inappropriate for me to decline this request.”
Pope has pleaded not guilty and is scheduled to go on trial in May. The court filing did not specify who invited Pope to attend. The Department of Justice has not yet responded to the request.
Trump has pledged to pardon at least some of those accused or convicted of crimes related to Jan. 6. According to the latest Justice Department report, approximately 1,000 defendants have pleaded guilty. Approximately 600 have been charged with assault or resisting police. Several fugitives are being sought by federal agents, and more arrests are expected.
