Trump's Justice Department Hires Former FBI Agent Pardoned for Capitol Riot Role

Strategic Insights -

Former FBI agent Jared Wise joined a mob that broke into the Capitol on January 6, 2021, shouting "kill 'em" and "f*** them" as he pushed against police and argued that officers were "disgusting" and "the Nazi" and "the Gestapo." Wise was pardoned by Trump on his first day in office, along with nearly every rioter charged in connection with the assault. Despite his involvement in the riot, Wise is now working as a senior adviser in the Department of Justice. He was scheduled to go to trial 10 days before Donald Trump returned to the White House, but the Justice Department moved to dismiss his case on January 20, and the judge granted the request. Wise worked for the FBI from 2004 through 2017 and later became a consultant in Oregon. He had traveled to Washington, D.C., to support Trump and joined the mob that broke into the Capitol.

Key Takeaways:

  • Former FBI agent Jared Wise was involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, shouting "kill 'em" and "f*** them" as he pushed against police.
  • Wise was pardoned by Trump on his first day in office, along with nearly every rioter charged in connection with the assault.
  • Despite his involvement in the riot, Wise is now working as a senior adviser in the Department of Justice.
  • The Justice Department moved to dismiss Wise's case on January 20, and the judge granted the request.
  • Wise worked for the FBI from 2004 through 2017 and later became a consultant in Oregon.
  • He had traveled to Washington, D.C., to support Trump and joined the mob that broke into the Capitol.
  • Wise testified in court that he would be "morally justified" if he had assaulted police, but during his testimony, he said that his call to "kill 'em" was an "angry reaction."
  • Wise's involvement in the riot has raised questions about his suitability for his new role in the Department of Justice.
  • The Trump administration has also hired Ed Martin, a right-wing activist, as a pardon attorney, and Jeannine Piro, a Fox News personality, as the director of the Department of Justice's "Weaponization Working Group."
  • More than 1,600 people have been charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the Capitol, and over 1,000 have pleaded guilty.

Statistics:

  • More than 1,600 people have been charged in connection with the January 6 attack on the Capitol.
  • Over 1,000 people have pleaded guilty in connection with the attack.
  • Over 200 people have been found guilty at trial, including 10 defendants who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy.
  • The Trump administration has agreed to pay $5 million to settle a wrongful death suit brought by the family of Ashli Babbitt, who was fatally shot by a Capitol police officer.
  • Jared Wise was scheduled to go to trial 10 days before Donald Trump returned to the White House.

Sources:

  • The Independent
  • NPR
  • The Washington Post
  • Fox News
  • Department of Justice
  • Court documents
  • Court transcripts