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Attorneys general

DOJ Adds Pardoned Jan. 6 Renter to Retribution Team

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A former FBI agent accused of inciting Donald Trump supporters to kill police officers during the January 6 attack on the Capitol has been appointed as a counselor to Ed Martin, director of the Department of Justice's "Weaponization Working Group." Jared Wise, who was charged but later pardoned by Trump along with over 1,500 others connected to the 2021 Capitol riot, will work alongside Martin in reviewing "politicized" actions against Trump but has been accused of being another example of the president using federal agencies for retribution against his political enemies.

Key Takeaways:

  • Jared Wise, a former FBI agent, has been appointed as a counselor to Ed Martin, director of the Department of Justice's "Weaponization Working Group."
  • Wise was charged with multiple offenses, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding police officers, for his alleged role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
  • Wise was later pardoned by Trump along with over 1,500 others connected to the 2021 Capitol riot.
  • The "Weaponization Working Group" was established by Attorney General Pam Bondi in February to review "politicized" actions against Trump but has been accused of being used for retribution against his political enemies.
  • The group will also investigate any alleged "weaponization" of prosecutions brought by federal and state prosecutors involving Trump.
  • Wise's specific role and responsibilities while working for Martin are unclear.

Statistics:

  • Over 1,500 people were pardoned or granted commutations by Trump for their role in the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
  • The Department of Justice indicted Wise in June 2023 for his alleged role in the January 6 attack.
  • Wise was charged with multiple offenses, including assaulting, resisting, or impeding police officers.
  • 13 federal officers were injured in the confrontation with Wise on January 6.
  • The riot resulted in 339 reported injuries to police officers and 140 reported injuries to civilians.

Sources:

  • (https://www.nytimes.com/2025/07/01/us/politics/justice-department-rioter-weaponization.html)
  • (https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-critics-fret-hes-on-a-warpath-for-retribution-im-concerned-for-my-family/)
  • (https://www.thedailybeast.com/doj-official-ed-martin-has-a-bizarre-plan-to-punish-trumps-enemies/)
  • (https://www.justice.gov/ag/media/1388506/dl?inline)
  • (https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/former-fbi-supervisory-special-agent-indicted-federal-court-felony-charges-related-us)
  • (https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/24791283/wise-motion.pdf)
  • (https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-frees-thugs-who-beat-cops-with-weapons-on-jan-6/)

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