Judge puts Jan. 6 trial on hold for the guy who warned him of 'retribution'

Two federal judges agreed to postpone the trial of two alleged Jan. 6 attackers, one of which threatened "retribution."

Politico reported Thursday that not many have been willing to put trials on hold under the guise of potential pardons and clemency from President-elect Donald Trump when he enters office. U.S. District Judges Rudolph Contreras and Carl Nichols claimed they wanted to put trials on hold to save court resources.

“There’s a real possibility of that happening,” Contreras said.

Also Read: Ecstatic J6 offenders look forward to pardons from 'Daddy Trump' — and retribution

He granted William Pope a pause despite the fact that the defendant "warn[ed]" him of "cycle of retribution" and a "final opportunity to make peace," Lawfare's Roger Parloff pointed out on X.

"As I look at this from a thousand-foot perspective, I find it important to renew my warning from ECF No. 329 that 'wielding extreme government force can lead to a dangerous cycle of escalating retribution as control of the government continues changing hands,'" said Pope in the request.

"I also renew my call from the same filing for the government to 'begin bestowing mercy on the hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants whose lives are being crushed,'" the filing continued.

The judges made the decisions over the objections of the Justice Department.

Marina Medvin, the lawyer for the defendants, said that the judge asked the Justice Department if they can "assure the court that this matter would be moving forward to trial once the new administration takes office. Of course, the prosecutor could make no such assurances."

Read the full report here.