Story perspectives

Judge Dismisses Rhodes Conviction After Trump Pardons Jan. 6

8/6/2026

Summary

Story summary

Judge Amit Mehta dismissed Stewart Rhodes’s seditious-conspiracy conviction on Tuesday after Justice Department’s request, writing the move “wipes their records clean” and said court must defer to executive.
President Donald Trump said the pardons end a “grave national injustice,” ordered attorney general to dismiss 450 Jan. 6 cases, and noted that most of the 1,200 convicted received full pardons.
Rhodes, 18 years, was released after his sentence was commuted in January 2025.

1 of 1

Story summary

Judge Amit Mehta dismissed Stewart Rhodes’s seditious-conspiracy conviction on Tuesday after Justice Department’s request, writing the move “wipes their records clean” and said court must defer to executive.
President Donald Trump said the pardons end a “grave national injustice,” ordered attorney general to dismiss 450 Jan. 6 cases, and noted that most of the 1,200 convicted received full pardons.
Rhodes, 18 years, was released after his sentence was commuted in January 2025.