SWANSEA, Mass. — On his first full day back in office, President Donald Trump signed an estimated 1,500 pardons for people arrested during the January 6th riots at the US Capitol.
Boston 25 News spoke with two New Englanders who had vastly different views of the pardons.
In Swansea, Massachusetts, Michael St. Pierre had few, if any, regrets about his role in the January 6th attacks.
“I didn’t hurt nobody. I threw a flagpole up against a closed door. I didn’t hit cops or anything like that,” St. Pierre said.
In October a federal judge in DC convicted him in the case.
He was looking at five years in federal prison.
Instead, he is one of 1,500 people that President Trump is pardoning.
“I think the pardons are most certainly justified. And Trump knows that that’s why he did what he did. He dealt with it himself,” said St. Pierre.
St. Pierre told Boston 25 that January 6 has caused him personal problems, but looking back, he would do it again.
“You were looking at five years in federal prison. And you don’t regret taking part in this?” Bob Wad asked.
“No, because, I’m a faithful guy,” St. Pierre said. “I’m glad I went and stood for something because what do you do? If you think your country is headed down the wrong path and there’s a chance to protest your voice and use your voice, you should use it.”
It’s a different story for Jason Riddle of Keene New Hampshire.
He recorded video of himself storming the capitol and then drinking wine from a wine cabinet at the Capitol.
“It was a low point of my life, getting arrested was definitely a good thing I’m grateful for it. I appreciate my rehabilitation. And this pardon is a slap in the face to that rehabilitation. If I pretend I’m happy about it, then I’m adding to the lie,” he said.
Jason Riddle served a 90-day federal sentence for his role in the riots.
Since being released, he tells us he has completely turned around his life.
He even voted for Kamala Harris and donated to her campaign.
“I have a life now, with my husband. A good one. And it’s been getting better since the riot. And its thanks to accepting my responsibility for my actions, being held accountable for them,” Riddle told us.
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