Judge dismisses case of two Jan. 6 rioters from Minnesota after Trump’s blanket pardon

A federal judge followed through on President Donald Trump’s blank pardon for 1,500 people charged or convicted in the 2021 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, dismissing the charges Tuesday for father and son Kenneth and Caleb Fuller over their involvement in the riots.

The charges were dismissed less than 24 hours after Trump’s blanket pardon as they were in the middle of a trial in a federal district court in D.C. Kenneth and Caleb Fuller are from Cleveland, Minn.

“The Court discerns no reason to withhold its leave,” U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly wrote. “All further proceedings, and any pending deadlines in this matter are vacated.”

The Fullers were among 15 Minnesotans pardoned, eight of whom had been convicted and sentenced.

According to court records, Kenneth Fuller was accused of resisting efforts by police to push back the crowd from the Capitol steps; Caleb Fuller was accused of pushing against police lines and others to prevent the forward movement of officers.

Caleb Fuller had been charged with entering a restricted area, civil disorder, violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Kenneth Fuller had been charged with entering a restricted area, civil disorder, violent entry, disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds and obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder.

The Minnesota Star Tribune attempted to reach out to the majority of the Minnesota defendants and their attorneys Monday night.

According to a list of executive actions that went live Monday on the official website for the White House, a proclamation from Trump said in addition to more than a dozen people whose sentences were commuted that the proclamation would “grant a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.”

Others from Minnesota include:

Frank J. Bratjan. Charged with parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentenced to a term of six months of probation.

Martin Cudo. Charged with entering a restricted area; disorderly conduct in a restricted area; disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Nicholas J. Fuller. Charged with civil disorder. Sentenced to 36 months of probation. He is the brother of Kenneth Fuller.

Aaron James. Charged with civil disorder; assaulting or resisting an officer; entering a restricted area; violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Daniel E. Johnson. Charged with civil disorder. Sentenced to four months of incarceration.

Brian Mock. Charged with assaulting or resisting an officer; entering a restricted area; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; acts of violence in any of the Capitol buildings or grounds. Sentenced to time served.

Paul Orta Jr. Charged with obstructing law enforcement during civil disorder and entry into restricted areas. He received a six-month prison term in the fall.

Jordan K. Stotts. Charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Sentenced to 24 months of probation.

Isaac Westbury. Charged with civil disorder; assaulting or resisting an officer; entering a restricted area; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Jonah Westbury. Charged with entering a restricted area; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Robert Westbury. Charged with entering a restricted area; and violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Victoria White. Charged with civil disorder and aiding and abetting. Sentenced to 24 months of probation.

Jack M. Johnson. Charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds. Sentenced to 12 months of probation.