Supporters of Donald Trump clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 in Washington, DC. Demonstrators breeched security and entered the Capitol as Congress debated the 2020 presidential election Electoral Vote Certification. President Donald Trump’s pardons of nearly 1,600 people in connection with the attack included at least 22 Alabamians. The attackresulted in more than 160 injuries and nine deaths. (Brent Stirton/Getty Images)
At least 22 Alabamians were included President Donald Trump’s pardons of nearly 1,600 people charged in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 and the violent attempt to stop certification of the 2020 presidential election results.
Trump also commuted the sentence of right-wing militia leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy.
The order instructed the U.S. Attorney General to issue “a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021” and the immediate releases of those imprisoned for related offenses.
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More than 140 law enforcement officers were injured in the Jan. 6 attacks, including more than 80 officers from the U.S. Capitol Police and 60 from the Washington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Nine people died as a result of the attack, including five officers who died following the attack and four participants, according to the New York Times. Aquilino Gonell, a U.S. Capitol Police officer, wrote an essay to the New York Times detailing the trauma stemming from Jan. 6, saying, “although I left the Capitol Police force, I remain haunted by that day.” The damage to the U.S. Capitol is estimated to be over $2.8 million.
Of the 22 Alabamians pardoned, five had ties to an extremist or fringe group, according to an NPR database of the Jan. 6 cases. Three of the five also had ties to the military.
Of those pardoned, 20 were convicted of at least one charge. Sixteen of those pleaded guilty to at least one charge. Those include Lonnie Leroy Coffman, a 70-year-old veteran when charged from Falkville, who was indicted on 17 weapons charges. He was charged with possession of an unregistered destructive device and carrying a pistol without a license. According to court records, U.S. Capitol Police found 11 mason jars with ignitable liquid, cloth rags, and lighters in his car, along with an assault rifle and ammunition. Coffman also had previously been linked with a Texas-based militia that staged an “armed citizen camp” aimed at enforcing immigration laws, the Washington Post reported. Coffman pleaded guilty to two charges, possession of an unregistered destructive device and carrying a pistol without a license. Other charges were dismissed. On April 1, 2022, he was sentenced to 46 months in prison for the first charge and 15 months for the second, minus the time he spent in detention before sentencing. He also received 36 months of supervised release for each charge and was ordered to pay a $200 fine. A message seeking comment was left with Coffman’s attorney.
Court records also accuse veteran and Oath Keeper member Mark Grods from Mobile participated in a group chat on Signal, an encrypted messaging mobile application, titled “DC OP: Jan 6 21,” brought firearms to D.C. and stored them at a Virginia hotel. According to court documents, Grods rode a golf cart with other Oath Keepers to the Capitol, entered the building with a “large stick,” and left as law enforcement deployed pepper balls. He later met with other members outside the Capitol and admitted to deleting his Signal messages after the event. Grods pleaded guilty to conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding and was sentenced to 36 months probation as part of a plea deal. He was also required to pay a restitution of $2,000 and a fee of $200. Brian Lockwood, an attorney for Grod, said in an interview Thursday that while the proclamation is “probably enough,” he wants to wait for an official court filing “to be absolutely certain” before advising Grods further.
“Certainly before I would tell anyone, ‘You may now go purchase a firearm,’ if they had a felony conviction, which Mr. Groves did, I would want to see in the record the actual recorded document,” Lockwood said.
Joshua A. James, owner of American Pro Hydro Services, a cleaning company in Arab, Alabama, and veteran of the U.S. Army, also joined an Oath Keeper group chat, according to prosecutors. The 33-year-old provided security to the “Stop the Steal” rally speakers before storming into the Capitol building. He was seen on Jan. 6 wearing military-grade gear and a patch related to the Oath Keepers. James pleaded guilty to two charges, seditious conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding. The other charges are dismissed. He was sentenced in December to six months probation, required to pay a fee of $200 and restitution of $2,000. A message seeking comment was left with James’ attorney.
Other defendants included Larry Freligh, 27, of Auburn, who admitted to being inside the U.S. Capitol building during the insurrection and entered former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi’s office with other protestors, according to charging documents. He was recently sentenced to four months imprisonment and twelve months of supervised release, as well as a $25 fee and $500 restitution, and is currently pending self-surrender. Jon Carlton Taylor, an attorney for Freligh, said in an interview that he is also waiting for official documentation.
“Luckily, it is a matter of public record. My client is not incarcerated at this time. My client is pending self surrender. So we’re just kind of waiting to see where we’re at in the process in the next week or so,” Taylor said.
Russell Dean Alford, 60, of Hokes Bluff, uploaded multiple videos on social media of himself both at the “Stop the Steal” rally and inside the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. According to the FBI, Alford entered the building through a broken door.
Joshua Matthew Black, a 44 year-old from Leeds, was photographed inside the Senate chamber wearing a camouflage jacket and uploaded a video to YouTube detailing his account of the insurrection.
Marissa Lee Bowling, 30, and husband Dylan Bowling, 32, were identified through Tik Tok and YouTube, along with surveillance footage. Prosecutors accused the Loxley couple of entering the Capitol building. They both deny being in the Capitol that day, though prosecutors said GPS data from their phones places them inside the building at the time of the insurrection.
Prosecutors said Phillip Andrew Bromley, 46, of Sterrett, filmed the shooting of Ashli Babbitt near the Speaker’s lobby during the Capitol riot. Videos and surveillance footage placed him inside the Capitol. Served in the Army Reserves and National Guard.
According to court documents, Kaleb Dillard, 26, Columbiana, was accused of assaulting police officers at the Capitol and claiming military experience. The FBI identified as a former Marine Corps combat videographer.
Dillon Colby Herrington, a 29-year old known as “#MAGALumberjack” from Madison and a former U.S. Army infantryman, allegedly threw objects at police and carried a knife on Capitol grounds.
Kari Dawn Kelley, 40, an insurance adjuster from Mobile, allegedly entered the Capitol through a window and participated in the Senate wing crowd. She was identified through security footage and an informant.
Christian Matthew Manley, 26, Elkmont, was accused of assaulting police with pepper spray and throwing objects during the Capitol riot. He is a former Marine.
Anthony Michael Mazzio Jr., 35, of Midland City, allegedly entered the Capitol wearing tactical gear and carrying a Trump flag. Police identified him through photos and cell data.
Gregory Lamar Nix, 52, of Cleveland, allegedly assaulted an officer with a flagpole and broke Capitol doors with a baton before entering the building.
Bobby Wayne Russell, 48, of Falkville, allegedly pushed barricades and officers at the Capitol. He was identified through social media and phone records.
Bryan Shawn Smith, 36, of Madison, allegedly assaulted law enforcement, resisted commands and brought a stun gun into the Capitol tunnel. He is a former military member.
William Wright Watson, 23, of Auburn, allegedly entered the Capitol through a broken window while carrying mace and a knife. He was charged with violating bond conditions in an unrelated drug trafficking case.
Donnie Duane Wren, 44, Athens, was charged with violent acts at the Capitol. He allegedly participated alongside his cousin, who carried a Confederate flag.
Oath Keepers member Jonathan Walden of Birmingham, 46, was accused of planning and participating in the Capitol attack. He allegedly entered the building with tactical gear and his dog. He had his sentencing scheduled for February 11.
Two defendants had been charged but had been convicted or entered a plea agreement at the time of the pardon, including Robert James Bonham, 44 years old, a resident of Wilsonville, who was charged in December for allegedly assaulting law enforcement, along with other charges related to Jan. 6. Tristan Seth Broadrick, 21, was arrested in June 2024, in Mobile, Alabama and charged with allegedly entering or remaining in the Capitol.
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