NC Jan. 6 Defendants Find Hope In Trump Pardons: ‘I Will Never Take My Freedom For Granted Again’

James Grant at US Capitol.

By Brianna Kraemer
Carolina Journal

The effects of pepper spray were still lingering on the personal items James Grant was able to pick up from the FBI office in Cary, North Carolina, this week, more than four years after being at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.

James Grant poses outside the jail in Washington, DC.

After facing over 100 years in prison in what he called a “witch hunt” against Trump supporters, Grant is free of all charges and is taking back his liberty following President Donald Trump’s executive order. Though he was worried he wouldn’t receive a full pardon that would allow him to pursue his goal of attending law school, Trump’s executive action on day one in the White House cleared all 1,500 individuals convicted of offenses related to the events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. While supporters praised the move to exonerate defendants who committed non-violent acts, critics have denounced pardoning individuals who committed more belligerent acts while on the Capitol grounds.

“So many things had to go right for us to get to this moment, and they all went right. I’m in disbelief, and it’s amazing,” Grant told the Carolina Journal in an interview. “I will never take my freedom for granted again, and I think all the January Sixers feel like that because you see how easily it can be taken from you for something that is just not appropriate at all.”

Four years ago, Grant had nearly full scholarships to several law schools but couldn’t attend any of them due to his involvement in the events of January 6, where he pushed a fence down that didn’t touch anyone. Though others directly around him didn’t face charges for pushing the fence, Grant faced up to 13 charges and the possibility of 101 years in federal prison at his trial, which led him to struggle with substances and confront his own mortality. He reflected on attempting to call his first lawyer 50 times from jail as he faced a century in prison, feeling helpless, alone, and frustrated.

“That’s a fate some would argue is worse than death,” he said. “I had a nearly full scholarship to a couple of law schools, and I didn’t get to show up to any of them because of January 6 for pushing a fence on that day.”

Ultimately, he was sentenced to three years in prison and was released in September 2024. He criticized the FBI and prosecutors who aggressively pursued cases for political reasons, describing the whole experience in one word as “disillusionment.”

“I was really worried I would only get a commutation which would not allow me to go back to law school. So the fact that [Trump] pardoned everyone, that was so big, and so many things had to go right for him to be here.”

His voting and gun rights have been restored, he is no longer a felon, and the experience has fueled his desire to return to law school more than anything.

Other North Carolina Defendants
Roughly 50 other North Carolinians, including journalists Stephen Horn and Steve Baker, faced scrutiny for being part of the Capitol breach. In a post on X celebrating Trump’s order, Horn said that while a pardon is nice, “it won’t get me back the $100k+ in legal fees, 12 months probation, 90 hours community service, [and] reputation harm from DOJ lies.”

Baker was arrested in March 2024, pleaded guilty to four misdemeanor charges in November to “avoid the shaming exercise of the trial,” and was set to hear his sentence in March.

“You have to forgive me if I’m a little emotional about what’s happening right now with the pardons from President Trump,” he reacted last week. “They don’t just affect my life. They affect those of hundreds of people who have been far more egregiously affected by the weaponization of the Biden DOJ.”

On a Sunday news talk show over the weekend, Vice President JD Vance accused former Attorney General Merrick Garland of applying “double standards in how sentences were applied to the J6 protesters, versus other groups.”

Meantime, Edward R. Martin Jr., the new interim U.S. attorney for Washington, DC, and a critic of the handling of J6 prosecutions, has ordered an internal investigation into charges of “obstructing an official proceeding of Congress” filed against 250 protestors from that day. In June of 2024, the US Supreme Court issued a 6-3 opinion, finding that the early 2000s obstruction law cited in the charges can only be applied to tampering with physical records.

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12 COMMENTS

  2. Imagine if J6ers were treated equally to Antifa rioters who burned, looted, and vandalized in 2018 and 2020….none of this would have ever made the news, there would have been no jail time, and no pardons would have needed to be issued. A few fines at most…..

    • Brett, there is no comparison. An attempt to overthrow the government is a very serious act that warrants severe penalties. Antifa (short for “anti-fascist”) is not a centralized organization but rather a broad movement made up of various autonomous groups and individuals who oppose fascism, white supremacy, and far-right extremism. Because of this, I too am ANTIFA.

      Are you FOR fascism, white supremacy and far-right extremism? If so, that is unAmerican.

      • I’m for an equal and blind justice system…but alas, we didn’t have that for 4 years. Maybe now we may. I’m hopeful.

        You can take your communist sympathies elsewhere….

        • Brett, your comment is both flawed and contradictory.

          First, claiming to support an “equal and blind justice system” while simultaneously implying that it didn’t exist for the past four years suggests a partisan, rather than principled, stance on justice. A truly blind justice system isn’t about which party is in power; it’s about applying the law fairly and consistently to all individuals. If justice was unequal during the past four years, the solution isn’t hoping for a political shift—it’s ensuring that institutions remain impartial regardless of leadership.

          Second, dismissing opposing views as “communist sympathies” is a weak attempt to shut down discussion rather than engage with the substance of the issue. The principles of equal justice and the rule of law are not exclusive to any political ideology; they are fundamental to a functioning democracy. Resorting to labels instead of reasoned argument undermines the very fairness and objectivity that an “equal and blind justice system” requires.

          If the goal is true justice, then fairness must apply across administrations and political lines—not just when it suits one’s preferred party.

  3. What a disgraceful article filled with lies! James Grant was one of the first rioters to breach the restricted area of the Capitol. He used a metal barricade to beat a police officer and encouraged other rioters to continue the assault on the building. While on pre-trial release he was caught driving drunk and in possession of a firearm, then fled police and resisted. He is a criminal who got exactly what he deserved. These people weren’t political prisoners or patriots. They’re criminals that the new president just freed to flood our streets. Disgusting!

  4. This article portrays James Grant as a victim of overzealous prosecution following the January 6, 2021, Capitol events. However, several points warrant critical examination:

    While Grant describes his involvement as merely “pushing a fence down that didn’t touch anyone,” it’s essential to recognize that such actions contributed to a larger violent breach of the Capitol. This event resulted in assaults on law enforcement officers, property damage, and significant threats to democratic processes. Minimizing individual actions overlooks their collective impact on national security and the rule of law.

    President Trump’s executive order pardoning over 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol breach has been met with substantial criticism. Experts warn that such pardons could embolden extremist groups by signaling a lack of consequences for violent actions. This move risks undermining the rule of law and may encourage future acts of political violence.

    Federal judges who presided over January 6 cases have expressed frustration and concern over these pardons. They argue that the clemency undermines the judicial process and diminishes accountability for actions that threatened the democratic process. Such pardons may erode public trust in the justice system’s impartiality and effectiveness.

    Granting clemency to individuals convicted of serious offenses, including assaults on law enforcement, raises ethical questions. Reports indicate that dozens of pardoned individuals had prior criminal convictions for serious charges, further complicating the narrative of unjust prosecution.

    While personal narratives like Grant’s highlight individual experiences, it’s crucial to consider the broader implications of actions taken on January 6 and subsequent pardons. The collective impact on democratic institutions, the rule of law, and societal norms must be carefully weighed against individual grievances.

  6. Jan 6th was proven to be a sham by Pelosi and her goons. Read the f’in unclassified material about Jan 6th committee. It’s sad you dems continue believing in the lies of the last Administration. Please do America a favor and leave.

    • Contrary to the claim that January 6th was a “sham,” a vast body of evidence—from bipartisan investigations and thousands of documented testimonies to video footage and court indictments—clearly shows that the Capitol was violently breached in a coordinated attack. The idea that the event was fabricated ignores well-documented facts and the overwhelming consensus among law enforcement, judicial authorities, and independent researchers. Dismissing these findings as mere partisan lies not only distorts reality but undermines the rule of law and the serious threat posed to our democratic institutions.

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