US to dismiss charges against 129 people in Trump inaugural protests

The U.S. Justice Department intends to dismiss criminal charges against 129 defendants in connection with the protests that took place during President Donald Trump's Jan. 20, 2017 inauguration, according to a court filing on Thursday.

The move to dismiss the charges against the majority of the more than 200 people arrested comes after six protesters were cleared of criminal rioting by a jury in December.

The government said on Thursday it still intends to proceed prosecuting 59 remaining defendants.

(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Susan Thomas)