Judge Quickly Shuts Down Capitol Rioter's Request to Wait Until Trump Lets Him Off the Hook

A defendant in the January 6 Capitol riot sought to delay his case until after Donald Trump inauguration, citing promises of clemency, but a judge swiftly rejected the request.

During his 2024 campaign, Trump repeatedly stated that he would pardon individuals involved in the insurrection, specifically those who were nonviolent, Huffpost reported.

Christopher Carnell, who entered the U.S. Capitol on that day, now faces charges and is hoping for a presidential pardon. His attorneys filed a motion to delay all court proceedings until December 13, after Trump takes office, claiming clemency could resolve his case.

"The Court has asked the parties to present status arguments on Nov. 8, 2024, but as of today, Mr. Carnell is now awaiting further information from the Office of the President-elect regarding the timing and expected scope of clemency actions relevant to his case," Carnell's attorney wrote in a three page filing.

On Wednesday, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell denied Carnell's request to postpone his November 8 status hearing. As such, the hearing and Carnell's case will proceed as planned.

If Trump does move forward with his clemency promises, it has the potential to affect the outcome of Carnell's case and others similarly charged in connection with the riot.