The January 6 Capitol attack was a violent breach of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, by supporters of President Donald Trump who sought to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. The riot killed and injured people on both sides, triggered the largest federal prosecution in American history, led to Trump’s second impeachment, and ended, for most defendants, in blanket presidential pardons issued on Trump’s first day back in office in January 2025. Five years on, the criminal accountability has largely been undone, civil cases against Trump are still moving, and Americans remain sharply split over what the day meant.
What Happened That Day
Trump spoke to a crowd estimated at 25,000 to 30,000 supporters near the White House starting around noon. In a roughly 70-minute speech, he repeated claims that the election had been “stolen,” pressured Vice President Mike Pence to reject the electoral count, told the crowd to “fight like hell,” and also urged supporters to march to the Capitol and “peacefully and patriotically make your voices heard.”1NPR. Read Trump’s Jan. 6 Speech, a Key Part of Impeachment Trial
The breach began before he finished. Rioters pushed through barriers on the West Front just before 1:00 p.m., overwhelmed police on the back side of the building by 1:30, and forced their way inside shortly after 2:00. Pipe bombs were discovered near the Democratic and Republican National Committee headquarters.2NPR. A Timeline of How the Jan. 6 Attack Unfolded Pence was evacuated from the Senate floor around 2:13; Speaker Nancy Pelosi was moved to a secure location minutes later.3BBC. Capitol Riot Timeline At 2:24, with rioters inside the Rotunda, Trump posted a tweet criticizing Pence for lacking “the courage” to reject the electoral votes.
Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund had authorization for National Guard deployment by 2:10 p.m., but troops did not arrive for hours.4GovInfo. USCP January 6 Timeline Trump released a video at 4:17 telling supporters to “go home in peace.” Law enforcement secured the building’s interior by about 6:00. The Senate reconvened at 8:00 p.m., and at 3:42 a.m. on January 7, Pence certified Biden as the winner.2NPR. A Timeline of How the Jan. 6 Attack Unfolded
Deaths and Injuries
Four rally participants died on or around the Capitol grounds. Ashli Babbitt, an Air Force veteran, was shot by Capitol Police officer Michael Byrd as she tried to climb through a barricaded door near the House chamber. Kevin Greeson and Benjamin Phillips died of cardiovascular disease. Rosanne Boyland’s death was attributed to an accidental drug overdose.5FactCheck.org. How Many Died as a Result of Capitol Riot
Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick suffered strokes after being sprayed with a chemical irritant and died the next day; the medical examiner ruled his death natural causes. In the weeks and months that followed, four responding officers died by suicide: Howard Liebengood, Jeffrey Smith, Kyle DeFreytag, and Gunther Hashida.5FactCheck.org. How Many Died as a Result of Capitol Riot The Department of Justice estimated about 140 officers were injured, with traumatic brain injuries, crushed spinal discs, lacerations, and chemical exposure among the wounds.6NPR. NPR Jan. 6 Archive
Officers who testified before Congress described sustained, brutal combat. Sergeant Aquilino Gonell of the Capitol Police, an Iraq War veteran, called it a “medieval battle” and said he was more afraid that day than during his deployment. Rioters used hammers, rebar, batons, bear spray, and stolen police shields. Officer Michael Fanone was dragged into the crowd, beaten, and tased while rioters chanted “kill him with his own gun.” Officer Harry Dunn described the mob as “violent, and at times racist.”7GovInfo. House Select Committee Officer Testimony Hearing8NPR. 4 Officers Who Responded to Capitol Riot Deliver Testimonies
The Prosecutions and Then the Pardons
The Justice Department’s investigation became one of the largest federal law enforcement operations in American history. By January 2025, roughly 1,583 people had been arrested and about 1,270 convicted, including 1,009 who pleaded guilty and 221 found guilty at trial. Charges ranged from misdemeanor trespassing to assaulting federal officers (608 individuals) and seditious conspiracy (18 individuals).9Lawfare. The High Water Mark of the Jan. 6 Prosecutions The heaviest sentences went to leaders of the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys. Founder Stewart Rhodes received 18 years for seditious conspiracy; former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio received 22 years, the longest sentence of any January 6 defendant.
On January 20, 2025, his first day back in office, Trump issued a sweeping clemency order covering nearly every person charged in connection with the attack. It granted “full, complete and unconditional” pardons to all convicted defendants except 14 people convicted of seditious conspiracy, whose sentences were commuted to time served. Rhodes and Tarrio were among the commutations. The order also directed the Attorney General to seek dismissal of roughly 450 pending cases.10White House. Granting Pardons and Commutation of Sentences for Certain Offenses Relating to Events at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021 Tarrio walked free on January 21, 2025.11PBS. Trump’s Jan. 6 Clemency Releases Former Proud Boys Leader, Oath Keepers Founder
In April 2026, the administration went further, filing court papers to vacate the seditious conspiracy convictions of the 12 Oath Keepers and Proud Boys members who had received commutations rather than full pardons. If granted, their felony records would be cleared entirely.12CNN. Justice Department Moves to Vacate Seditious Conspiracy Convictions
A June 2026 Lawfare study found that at least 97 clemency recipients had since been accused of new crimes, about one in 16. Of those, 19 involved conduct after the pardons took effect. The tally included 41 violent-crime cases, 28 gun charges, at least 14 sex crimes or child sexual abuse material cases, and at least 20 DUI or public intoxication incidents.13Lawfare. The Jan. 6 Pardons: How Many Clemency Recipients Have Faced Other Charges A House Judiciary Committee Democrats staff report catalogued 33 specific cases, including Edward Kelley, who was sentenced to life in July 2025 after a federal judge ruled Trump’s pardon did not cover his unrelated conspiracy to murder FBI agents, and Emily Hernandez, sentenced to 10 years in Missouri for a fatal DUI days after her pardon.14U.S. House Judiciary Committee Democrats. One Year Later: January 6th Pardons
Trump’s Own Legal Exposure
The House impeached Trump on January 13, 2021, for “incitement of insurrection,” the first president impeached twice. The Senate vote to convict was 57–43, short of the required two-thirds. Seven Republican senators voted guilty: Richard Burr, Bill Cassidy, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, and Pat Toomey.15NPR. Senate Acquits Trump in Impeachment Trial, Again
A House Select Committee led by Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney investigated for 18 months and, in a December 2022 final report, concluded Trump made “repeated and purposely false claims of election fraud” to stoke his supporters and recommended criminal charges against him.16PBS. Read the Jan. 6 Committee’s Summary of Its Final Report
On August 1, 2023, Special Counsel Jack Smith indicted Trump on four federal counts, including conspiracy to defraud the United States and conspiracy against rights. The indictment, filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, alleged he organized fraudulent slates of electors in seven states, tried to weaponize the Justice Department, and pressured Pence to obstruct certification.17U.S. Department of Justice. USA v. Donald J. Trump Indictment After Trump won the 2024 election, Smith moved to dismiss the case under longstanding DOJ policy against prosecuting a sitting president. Judge Tanya Chutkan granted the motion on November 25, 2024, dismissing the indictment without prejudice. Smith’s filing said the dismissal did not reflect on “the gravity of the crimes charged, the strength of the Government’s proof, or the merits of the prosecution.”18ABC News. Special Counsel Jack Smith Files Motion to Dismiss Federal Election Interference Case
Civil suits filed by Capitol Police officers and Democratic members of Congress are still alive. In December 2023, a D.C. Circuit panel rejected Trump’s claim of absolute presidential immunity, allowing the suits to move forward.19PBS. Federal Appeals Court Rules Trump Can Be Sued for Inciting Violence on Jan. 6 In March 2026, Judge Amit Mehta ruled Trump’s rally speech “plausibly” amounted to incitement and fell outside the scope of presidential duties, keeping the claims on track toward trial.20First Amendment Encyclopedia (MTSU). Trump Isn’t Immune From Civil Claims That His Jan. 6 Rally Speech Incited Riot, Judge Says
What Congress Changed After
The most consequential legislative response was the Electoral Count Reform and Presidential Transition Improvement Act, enacted at the end of December 2022. The law states explicitly that the Vice President’s role in counting electoral votes is “ministerial” with no power to reject slates. It raises the threshold for congressional objections from one member of each chamber to one-fifth, sets a firm deadline for governors to certify results, eliminates a provision that had allowed state legislatures to appoint electors after a “failed election,” and creates an expedited judicial review process.21Protect Democracy. Understanding the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022
Congress also approved a $1.9 billion emergency security supplemental funding a dedicated quick reaction force, hardened Capitol windows and doors, new screening vestibules, and upgraded surveillance. The Capitol Police wellness program was renamed for Officer Howard C. “Howie” Liebengood.22U.S. House Democrats Appropriations Committee. Emergency Security Supplemental Summary
Loose Ends
The pipe bomb case was resolved in late 2025. On December 4, Attorney General Pamela Bondi and FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of Brian J. Cole Jr., 30, of Woodbridge, Virginia, in connection with the devices planted at the DNC and RNC headquarters the night before the attack.23NPR. FBI Pipe Bombs Arrest An FBI affidavit said investigators tied Cole to the bombs through cell tower data, license plate readers, and purchase records for components, and that he confessed and expressed support for Trump during a custodial interview. By April 2026 Cole faced upgraded charges including “attempting to use weapons of mass destruction.” He has pleaded not guilty and remains in custody.24The Guardian. January 6 Pipe Bomber Suspect Faces New Charges
Officer Byrd, who shot Ashli Babbitt, was cleared by local and federal investigators. Babbitt’s family sued for $30 million in January 2024, and in June 2025 the Trump administration settled for $4.975 million, ending the case before its scheduled 2026 trial.25Politico. Ashli Babbitt Trump Settlement
A 2022 law authorized a plaque on the Capitol’s West Front honoring officers who responded to the attack. As of mid-2026 it has not been placed there. Speaker Mike Johnson’s office has cited “logistical and technical challenges.” A January 2026 Senate resolution led to the plaque’s temporary installation in a restricted-access hallway in the Senate wing, with a QR code linking to the officers’ names. Former officers Harry Dunn and Daniel Hodges sued over the delay in June 2025.26Roll Call. J6 Plaque in Hallway Not Enough
Hours before Trump’s inauguration, Biden issued preemptive pardons to shield people he believed could face retaliatory prosecution, including all members and staff of the House Select Committee, Capitol Police and D.C. Metropolitan Police officers who testified before it, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and retired General Mark Milley. Biden said the pardons “should not be mistaken as an acknowledgment that any individual engaged in any wrongdoing,” and they cover only federal offenses.27PBS. Biden Pardons Fauci, Milley, and Jan. 6 Committee Members28BBC. Biden Issues Preemptive Pardons
Where Public Opinion Stands
A bipartisan majority of Americans still disapprove of the attack, but attitudes have shifted. A December 2024 CBS News/YouGov poll found the share of Republicans who “strongly disapprove” of January 6 had fallen from 51% in 2021 to 30%.29CBS News. Poll Analysis: Republicans and Jan. 6 Attack A Washington Post/University of Maryland survey found that by December 2024 nearly two-thirds of Republicans supported pardons for those involved, a reversal from 2023, when most Republicans said the legal punishments were fair or not harsh enough. Two-thirds of the broader public opposed pardons, including 90% of Democrats and two-thirds of independents.30Christian Science Monitor. January 6 Capitol Riot: Trump Poll, Pardon
The fifth anniversary made the split plain. House Democrats reconvened former committee members for a hearing at the Capitol, where Representative Jamie Raskin said the event was necessary to counter “the Orwellian project of forgetting.” Most Republicans were silent; Representative Mike Collins called the attack a “self-guided, albeit unauthorized, tour,” and Speaker Johnson dismissed the Democratic hearing as a “partisan exercise.”31PBS. House Democrats Hold Special Jan. 6th Hearing on Five-Year Anniversary Enrique Tarrio, released a year earlier, organized a march of about 100 people from the White House to the Capitol to honor Babbitt and others who died, and said he expected it to become an annual event.32The Guardian. January 6 US Capitol Attack Fifth Anniversary