Indiana Man Shot by Police Days After Trump’s Pardon Related to Capitol Riot

Matthew Huttle, recently pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, was shot by police during a traffic stop in Indiana. The incident has reignited discussions surrounding the implications of pardoning individuals involved in the Capitol unrest.

 

An Indiana man, Matthew Huttle, who received clemency from former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot, was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop just days later. The incident, which occurred on Sunday, resulted from Huttle allegedly resisting arrest and engaging in an “altercation” with a responding officer, according to a statement from the Indiana State Police (ISP).

Details surrounding the traffic stop are still murky, including the specific reason for Huttle’s arrest at that time. However, it has been confirmed that he possessed a firearm when police stopped his vehicle. In light of the shooting, the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, and an investigation led by the Indiana State Police has been requested for full transparency by Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson.

Huttle was among the nearly 1,600 individuals granted pardons or commutations by Trump last week, all of whom were implicated in the Capitol unrest on January 6, 2021. Huttle had spent approximately ten minutes in the Capitol building during the riot, ultimately agreeing to a plea deal that resulted in a six-month prison sentence. He was released from custody in July 2024. His uncle, Dale Huttle, expressed his lack of remorse regarding the storming of the Capitol, dubbing it a patriotic duty.

This incident is not unique; other January 6 participants have faced legal issues following their pardons. Daniel Bell, another rioter from Florida, was rearrested on federal gun charges a week ago, highlighting the ongoing legal challenges for defendants. Both Huttle and Bell had their charges dismissed on Trump’s first day back in the White House, day marked by the release of several prominent individuals connected to far-right groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

Trump has publicly stated that those pardoned have faced grave injustices from the justice system, referring to the situation as unprecedented in American history. Yet, his decisions have encountered critique, even from within his party. Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, recently described the pardons of those who violently assaulted police officers during the riot as a “mistake.” As the discourse surrounding these pardons intensifies, the ramifications for individuals involved in the Capitol riot continue to unfold.