A Navy veteran who admitted to consuming wine he discovered whereas taking part within the Jan. 6, 2021, riot on the Capitol has since denounced President Donald Trump and is searching for to formally refuse the presidential pardon issued to greater than 1,500 rioters.
“I precipitated numerous damage by being down there. I damage lots of people alongside the best way, I stated numerous nasty issues,” Jason Riddle informed WMUR. “I’ve to acknowledge that actuality, and a part of that’s not taking any type of pardon or move or something from Trump that denies that actuality, as a result of when you do this, I’m proper again the place I began.”
Riddle, a New Hampshire resident, told ABC News earlier this 12 months that he was battling alcohol on the time of the riot and was “obsessive about Trump.”
Pictures from the riot present a selfie of Riddle posing with a bottle of wine he discovered on or in a fridge and holding a crimson guide he stole from the Workplace of the Senate Parliamentarian. He left the scene when a police officer arrived.
“I clearly was obsessive about Trump. I used to be mentally being held hostage to one thing that was simply sucking me dry,” Riddle informed WMUR.
He served 90 days in jail and was on probation when Trump issued the sweeping pardon, which Riddle stated on the time he didn’t need. He has since joined Leaving MAGA, a assist group for individuals who have left, or wish to go away, the Trump fanbase.
He wrote in a blog post featured on the group’s webpage that his epiphany occurred in March 2023, when Trump inspired his supporters to protest in opposition to his impending indictment for falsifying enterprise data.
“I stated to myself, ‘Trump doesn’t know you, and the truth that you’re even enthusiastic about his emotions proves you have got an unhealthy obsession. And also you’re an fool for even believing he cares,’” Riddle wrote.
Riddle stated he minimize ties together with his Republican buddies. His probation necessities included taking a Breathalyzer take a look at twice a day, which he stated was what he wanted to get sober lastly.
“It’s due to these penalties I now have a cheerful and fruitful existence,” Riddle informed WMUR.
Nevertheless, Riddle wants lawmaker help to formally refuse Trump’s pardon, based on WMUR. The workplace of Sen. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) confirmed with the outlet that they reached out to the federal pardon workplace on Riddle’s behalf.
“This was a horrible factor that occurred, and I need to go to jail, and so does Donald Trump. He nonetheless deserves to go to jail for having precipitated that. I feel possibly sooner or later he’ll,” Riddle stated.
