A federal judge has rejected the U.S. government’s attempt to dismiss the convictions of two January 6 rioters—Cody Page Carter Connell and Daniel Page Adams—despite a sweeping presidential pardon issued by former President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025. The ruling underscores the judiciary’s role in preserving historical accountability and affirms that pardons do not erase criminal convictions or the facts underlying them.
The Case Against Connell and Adams
Both defendants traveled from Louisiana and Texas to Washington, D.C., to attend Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6, 2021. After the rally, they joined the violent mob at the Capitol, forcing their way through police barricades and scaffolding set up for the upcoming presidential inauguration.
According to stipulated facts presented at trial, Connell and Adams were at the front lines of the attack. As they faced Capitol Police officers at the Northwest steps of the Capitol building, Adams shouted to the crowd, “Are you ready to push? Come on! Let’s go!” The two men then participated in an assault on officers, pushing through police lines and forcing their way into the building.
In later messages, Adams boasted that he and Connell “led the charge” and were “the first ones in” the building. Connell bragged about their role in forcing police to retreat, stating that officers “had no other choice” but to stand down. Surveillance footage and body-worn camera videos corroborated their actions.
A federal grand jury indicted both men on multiple charges, including:
- Civil disorder
- Obstruction of an official proceeding
- Assaulting, resisting, or impeding federal officers
- Entering and remaining in a restricted building
- Disorderly conduct in a Capitol building
Following a stipulated bench trial in July 2023, both defendants were found guilty on all counts. On December 10, 2024, the court sentenced them to 26 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and a $2,000 fine each.
Trump’s Pardon and the Government’s Attempt to Dismiss the Case
On January 20, 2025, Trump issued a sweeping presidential pardon for individuals convicted for their roles in the Capitol attack. The proclamation directed the Attorney General to “seek dismissal with prejudice of all pending indictments” related to January 6. Acting on this directive, the U.S. government filed a motion to dismiss the cases against Connell and Adams, which allows the government to drop charges with court approval.
However, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman denied the motion, issuing a strong rebuke of the pardon’s characterization of January 6 prosecutions as a “grave national injustice.”
Why the Court Rejected the Motion
Judge Friedman’s ruling hinged on two key legal principles:
Finality of Convictions
Connell’s appeal was still pending before the D.C. Circuit, meaning the lower court lacked jurisdiction to dismiss his case.
Adams’ conviction was already finalized, so there was no pending indictment to dismiss. The pardon eliminates punishment but does not erase the conviction.
Judicial Independence & Historical Record
The judge emphasized that the courts had meticulously followed due process in all January 6 cases. He rejected the false assertion that these prosecutions represented a “grave national injustice.” He reinforced that a pardon does not erase historical truth, stating: “No pardon can change the tragic truth of what happened on January 6, 2021.”
Pardons do not retroactively erase criminal conduct—defendants remain guilty in the eyes of the law and history. Future efforts to dismiss cases based on political motivations will face judicial scrutiny. Judge Friedman’s ruling joins similar decisions by other D.C. judges, who have emphasized that the justice system’s response to January 6 must remain untainted by political influence. Despite Trump’s pardon, Connell and Adams’ convictions remain intact.
Source Citation:
United States v. Connell, 2025 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 16245 (D.D.C. 2025)