A federal judge has ordered that a Kansas City, Missouri, man who pleaded guilty to entering the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, and believes he will receive a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump, be allowed to attend Trump’s inauguration.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who oversaw Trump’s election subversion case in the District of Columbia, has approved Eric Lee Peterson’s request to attend the president-elect’s swearing-in ceremony in Washington, D.C. on January 20. Additionally, the judge has granted Peterson’s request to expand his local travel restrictions while he is out on bond.
In a motion filed on Tuesday, Peterson’s attorney, Michael Bullotta, argued that his client should be granted exceptions based on the fact that he does not have a criminal record. Bullotta further stated that Peterson’s offense was simply entering and remaining in the Capitol for approximately 8 minutes without proper authorization.
Bullotta wrote that these two modification requests are not only reasonable but also more fitting, especially considering the Trump administration’s confirmation that President Trump will grant full pardons to individuals in Mr. Peterson’s situation on his first day in office, January 20, 2025. As a result, the scheduled sentencing hearing before this Court on January 27, 2025 is likely to become irrelevant.
During his campaign, Trump made multiple pledges to pardon the Jan. 6 defendants, whom he praised as “patriots,” “warriors,” and “hostages.”
During an interview on NBC News’ “Meet the Press with Kristen Welker” on December 8, the president-elect expressed his intention to swiftly issue pardons to the defendants on his first day in office. However, he did mention the possibility of exceptions for individuals who are deemed radical or crazy.
During the interview, Trump issued a threat of imprisonment against both former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and current Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson of Mississippi. These two individuals were responsible for overseeing the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
Peterson admitted his guilt in knowingly and unlawfully entering and staying in a restricted building or grounds. He could potentially face a prison sentence of up to one year, along with a fine.
As part of the plea agreement, he has agreed to pay $500 in restitution for the estimated $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol, as stated in court documents. Additionally, Peterson has consented to providing authorities access to all of his social media communication during the time of the riot.
Around 1,572 individuals were subjected to federal charges in the aftermath of the Capitol attack, which caused a significant disruption in the certification of Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
As rioters stormed the Capitol, lawmakers and Vice President Mike Pence were forced to evacuate to secure locations within the building. The violent mob assaulted approximately 140 police officers and wreaked havoc by vandalizing various areas, including the offices of lawmakers.
According to the latest data from the Department of Justice, Peterson is one of the 996 defendants who have pleaded guilty to charges.
Peterson, who signed a statement of offense on Oct. 29, was captured on surveillance video from inside the Capitol as well as publicly available third-party video taken outside the building during the riot.
Jordan Peterson, dressed in a pink t-shirt layered with a dark hooded sweatshirt, found himself amidst the throng of rioters outside the secured Rotunda doors. The unmistakable sound of the building alarm resonated from within the Capitol building, as recounted in the statement.
According to the court filing, Peterson entered the building at 3:03 p.m. Eastern and effortlessly passed by a police officer stationed at the doors.
Peterson took cell phone photos while he was inside the Rotunda, where several U.S. Capitol Police were present. After exiting the building at 3:11 p.m., he continued to stay on the Capitol’s restricted Upper West Terrace, as stated in the report.
In early August, Peterson faced arrest and initially confronted four charges, including disorderly conduct and engaging in parading, picketing, and demonstrating within the Capitol.
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