Justice Department Places 2 Prosecutors on Leave Over Capitol Riot Language
UPDATE: The Justice Department has placed two federal prosecutors on leave following their controversial characterization of the January 6 Capitol siege as a “riot” marked by a “mob.” This urgent development comes as new court documents revealed the prosecutors’ descriptions in a case involving Taylor Taranto, a man previously pardoned by President Trump for related charges.
The court papers were filed on October 24, 2023, as part of the proceedings against Taranto, who was convicted earlier this year for live-streaming a bomb threat. He was arrested while armed and driving through former President Barack Obama’s neighborhood. The filings sought a sentence of 27 months in prison, as a hearing is set for October 26, 2023.
In the memorandum, the prosecutors stated that “thousands of people comprising a mob of rioters attacked the U.S. Capitol,” a stark contrast to Trump’s portrayal of January 6 as a “day of love.” This language has drawn significant attention, especially since Trump has labeled those involved as “hostages.” The filing also noted that Taranto drove to Obama’s neighborhood shortly after Trump shared the former president’s address on Truth Social.
Hours after the memorandum was submitted, the two prosecutors were placed on leave. U.S. Attorney for D.C. Jeanine Pirro, a vocal Trump supporter, was involved in the original filing. In a statement to CBS News, Pirro emphasized the department’s commitment to addressing violence against law enforcement and government officials, asserting that they take such threats extremely seriously.
In a quick response to the controversy, a revised, shorter sentencing memorandum appeared in the federal court database, omitting the references to the January 6 riot and Trump’s social media post. This change raises questions about the influence of political pressures on judicial proceedings.
The Justice Department’s actions follow widespread backlash against Trump’s decisions to grant clemency to over 1,500 accused Capitol rioters earlier this year, which has led to accusations of downplaying the severity of the events. Taranto is among those pardon recipients now facing new legal challenges unrelated to January 6. Just weeks ago, another pardoned rioter was charged for allegedly threatening House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
As this story develops, all eyes are on the upcoming sentencing hearing for Taranto, where the implications of the prosecutors’ leave and the evolving narrative surrounding January 6 will be closely scrutinized. Stay tuned for updates on this breaking news story, as it continues to unfold with significant ramifications for justice and political discourse in the United States.
