President Donald Trump has issued a second presidential pardon to a January 6 defendant who remained incarcerated despite earlier clemency grants for participants in the U.S. Capitol riot. The decision involves Daniel Edwin Wilson, whose case became entangled in legal debates about the scope of presidential pardon power.
Controversial Clemency Extends to Firearms Charges
Daniel Edwin Wilson was scheduled to remain in federal prison until 2028 before receiving Trump's pardon on Friday evening. His release was confirmed by his attorney on Saturday, marking the latest example of Trump using constitutional authority to assist supporters involved in the January 6, 2021 insurrection.
Wilson's situation became complicated because authorities discovered six firearms and approximately 4,800 rounds of ammunition in his home during the investigation into his Capitol riot involvement. Due to prior felony convictions, it was illegal for him to possess these weapons, creating separate charges beyond his January 6 activities.
Legal Debate Over Pardon Scope
The case sparked significant legal controversy regarding whether Trump's original January 6 pardons applied to other crimes uncovered during the extensive federal investigation following the Capitol attack. Earlier this year, U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich, who was appointed to the bench by Trump himself, criticized the Justice Department for arguing that the president's January 6 clemency should extend to Wilson's firearm offenses.
Prosecutors had initially contended in February that Trump's pardons for January 6 participants didn't cover Wilson's gun crime. However, the department later reversed its position, stating it had received further clarity on the intent of the Presidential Pardon.
Background of the Case
Wilson was sentenced in 2024 to five years in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to impede or injure police officers and illegally possessing firearms at his residence. Prosecutors presented evidence suggesting he had planned for the January 6 riot for weeks and traveled to Washington with the explicit goal of preventing the peaceful transfer of power following President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.
Authorities documented Wilson's communications with members of the far-right Oath Keepers extremist group and followers of the anti-government Three Percenters movement as he marched toward the Capitol. Prosecutors cited messages they argued demonstrated that Wilson's plans were for a broader American civil war.
In one particularly revealing message dated November 9, 2020, Wilson wrote: I'm willing to do whatever. Done made up my mind. I understand the tip of the spear will not be easy. I'm willing to sacrifice myself if necessary. Whether it means prison or death.
Despite these communications, Wilson expressed regret during his sentencing hearing, stating that while he entered the Capitol with good intentions, he regretted his actions that day.
White House Justification and Response
A White House official, speaking anonymously on Saturday, defended the pardon decision by arguing that the search of Wilson's home resulted directly from the January 6 investigation. The official stated: Because the search of Mr. Wilson's home was due to the events of January 6, and they should have never been there in the first place, President Trump is pardoning Mr. Wilson for the firearm issues.
Wilson's attorney, George Pallas, expressed gratitude for the presidential action in an email statement: We are grateful that President Trump has recognized the injustice in my client's case and granted him this pardon. Mr. Wilson can now reunite with his family and begin rebuilding his life.
The case continues to highlight the ongoing political and legal ramifications of the January 6 Capitol attack and the controversial use of presidential pardon power for those involved in the events that sought to overturn the 2020 election results.
