NY Post: Trump pardons first Capitol rioters, brothers Valentin released from jail

Two brothers from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, became the first individuals convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol attack to be released following President Donald Trump’s Day 1 pardon.

Andrew and Matthew Valentin, sentenced for their roles in the Capitol attack, were released from the Central Detention Facility in Washington, DC, just hours after Trump issued a sweeping pardon for hundreds of rioters involved in the deadly events, Caliber.Az reports via New York Post.

The release, announced late on January 20 by Trump administration officials, follows the president’s signing of a historic executive order commuting 14 prison sentences and granting pardons to all individuals convicted of crimes related to the January 6 insurrection.

The decision, touted by White House liaison to the Justice Department Paul Ingrassia, was described as a “monumental moment” in the nation’s history.

Matthew Valentin, 32, had pleaded guilty to two felony charges of assaulting law enforcement officers and faced up to eight years in prison. His younger brother Andrew, 27, was convicted on charges related to assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon, carrying a potential 28-year sentence.

Despite not entering the Capitol building, both were involved in violent confrontations with police, with Andrew throwing a chair at officers and Matthew using a chemical irritant and grabbing an officer’s neck.

The pardons, issued in the early hours of Trump’s second term, have sparked both praise and controversy. Critics, including many law enforcement officials, have condemned the move, while Trump’s supporters argue that the rioters were victims of harsh legal treatment.

The January 6 riots, triggered by Trump’s false claims of election fraud, led to significant loss of life, including the death of Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick. 

By Aghakazim Guliyev