The Justice Department has confirmed that it removed a number of Jan. 6-related press releases from its website, including announcements involving criminal charges, guilty pleas, convictions, and sentencings stemming from the 2021 Capitol attack. The attack occurred as supporters of President Donald Trump sought to disrupt certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory.
The removals drew attention after a journalist posted on X that the department appeared to be deleting the records. The DOJ’s rapid response account later acknowledged the deletions and rejected the characterization that they were quiet. The account said the department was reversing what it called “weaponization” under the Biden administration and described the removed material as partisan propaganda.
The action follows the DOJ’s announcement of a $1.776 billion “anti-weaponization” fund intended to compensate people who allege they were improperly investigated or prosecuted by the federal government. The fund is part of a settlement connected to Trump’s lawsuit against the IRS. Administration officials have not ruled out compensation for people convicted in Jan. 6-related cases, prompting criticism from Democrats and Republicans. Sen. Dick Durbin called such payments to rioters “absurd and offensive,” while Sen. Thom Tillis called the fund a “payout pot for punks.”
Reports indicate that some deleted releases involved seditious conspiracy cases against members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, far-right extremist groups with leaders convicted for roles in the attack. Last month, the DOJ asked a federal appeals court to vacate those convictions; the request was granted Thursday, and the department moved Friday to dismiss the cases.
Not all Jan. 6 materials have disappeared. Several releases remained accessible Monday, including statements about early charges, guilty pleas, and remarks by Attorneys General Jeffrey Rosen and Merrick Garland. Trump also pardoned or commuted sentences for more than 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants after returning to office in January 2025 as well.