A federal judge agreed Thursday to a Jan. 6 rioter's request to travel to Washington, D.C., for President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, the New York Post reported. Eric Peterson was convicted after he unlawfully entered the U.S. Capitol during the protest and faces up to a year in prison.
On Nov. 1, Peterson pleaded guilty to charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds. He is free without bail until his sentencing hearing on Jan. 27 but is under travel restrictions until then.
Peterson, a veteran and business owner, requested through his attorney Michael Bullotta to attend Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20. The main event requires tickets, but many revelers watch from the National Mall on a jumbotron.
Bullotta argued that Peterson did not engage in any vandalism or violence while inside the Capitol for eight minutes and was unaware that others were. The attorney also argued that Trump has promised to pardon Jan. 6 prisoners, meaning Peterson's sentence "will likely be rendered moot."
Others who were violent and destructive have made similar requests for Trump's inauguration but have met resistance. However, prosecutors did not counter Peterson's request.
This more nuanced approach perhaps represents a change in how the Jan. 6, 2021 incursion at the U.S. Capitol will now be treated. Almost immediately after the incident, Democrats attempted to turn it into a coordinated insurrection and threw the book at anyone caught in the vicinity.
However, these were ordinary Americans caught up in the "Stop the Steal" protest that suddenly escalated. While some were indeed criminal and violent, many were just in the wrong place at the wrong time.
With Trump on his way to the White House and ready to grant pardons, these cases and convictions have been defanged, including Peterson's. His offense was only walking into a restricted area after rioters broke in while repeating, "This is our house!"
Peterson proceeded into the building and noted he walked "right by a police officer posted at the doors … Peterson knew that the building was off limits and he was not authorized to be there," the court filings say. Now it seems he might not face jail as the nightmare is over.
During the 2024 presidential campaign, Trump made it clear that he would pardon Jan. 6 protesters who were convicted of crimes. Even after his election, Trump was steadfast in his pledge.
"I’m going to look at everything. We’ll look at individual cases," Trump said to NBC's Kristen Welker, Fox News reported.
"But I’m going to be acting very quickly," he added. Welker pushed back for a timeline about when this might take place.
"First day, I'm looking first day. These people have been there — how long is it? Three, four years. They’ve been in there for years. And they’re in a filthy, disgusting place that shouldn’t even be allowed to be open," Trump said.
There's no doubt Trump is unbelievably happy about how things are going since Election Day, including for people like Peterson. The 2024 presidential election was consequential for them and the nation.
