TRUMP ORDERS PARDONS AND DISMISSALS FOR JAN. 6 DEFENDANTS INCLUDING SOUTH DAKOTANS

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Ashley Murray / States Newsroom) – President Donald Trump on Monday night issued sweeping pardons for nearly all Jan. 6 defendants, erasing accountability for those who violently tried to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election results on that date in 2021.

Behind the desk of the Oval Office, Trump told reporters he signed a pardon for nearly 1,500 defendants who participated in the attack and commuted the sentences for several others whose punishments require “further research,” he said.

“We hope they come out tonight. They’re expecting it,” Trump said about the defendants.

Journalists outside the D.C. Central Detention Facility, where many Jan. 6 defendants are being held, reported families began gathering there Monday in anticipation of the pardons.

The White House released the names of 14 defendants whose sentences Trump commuted. They include numerous right-wing militia leaders convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Among them are Stewart Rhodes of Texas and Kelly Meggs of Florida, the founder and current leader of the Oath Keepers, as well as members of the Proud Boys, including Joseph Biggs of Florida, Ethan Nordean of Washington, Zachary Rehl of Pennsylvania, and Dominic Pezzola of New York.

All remaining Jan. 6 defendants convicted of crimes related to the Capitol attack received a “full, complete and unconditional pardon,” according to the order.

Trump praised the defendants on the campaign trail as “hostages,” “patriots” and “warriors,” and pardoning them became a major theme of Trump’s rallies.

Former U.S. Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn said the pardons marked a “dark day in American history.”

“This decision is a betrayal to the officers who were severely injured — and died — as a result of the insurrection. This decision puts Americans at risk as these violent criminals return to their communities. These pardons are a reflection of what abuse of power looks like and what we the people are bound to witness over the next four years,” Dunn said in statement released by the anti-Trump group Courage for America.

The U.S. Department of Justice launched its largest-ever investigation following the attack that left over 140 police officers injured and upwards of $2.8 million in damage to the Capitol.

As of early January the department had charged just over 1,580 people for crimes related to the riot, 608 of whom were charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement, including nearly a third who used a dangerous or deadly weapon, according to the department’s latest figures.

Weapons, and objects used as weapons, brought on the Capitol grounds ranged from firearms and tasers to chemical sprays and sharp-edged weapons, including knives, axes and even a sword, according to the department.

Approximately 1,000 have pleaded guilty — 682 to misdemeanors and 327 to felonies. Just over 200 defendants were found guilty at contested trials, including 10 who were convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Earlier Monday, Trump promised an overflow inauguration crowd in the Capitol Visitors Center that would deliver “action” for the Jan. 6 “hostages.”

He slammed Biden’s preemptive pardoning of the “unselect committee of political thugs,” referring to the former president’s Monday morning action for members and staff who served on the House select committee that probed the Jan. 6 Capitol attack.

Biden also preemptively pardoned police officers who testified before the committee. The officers have lambasted Trump’s promise to pardon the rioters.

Former U.S. Capitol Police Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, one of the officers to receive the pardon, said in a statement Monday that he “was just doing my job and fulfilling my oath” when “American citizens attacked the U.S. Capitol, injuring me and my colleagues.”

“Thank you President Biden for upholding our nation’s democracy, for your years of service to this country, and — in your final moments as Commander-in-Chief — issuing preemptive pardons for me and other loyal Americans. I did not seek a pardon, and I did nothing wrong. My family and I are grateful for your empathy and leadership.”

South Dakotans covered by pardons and dismissals

From South Dakota Searchlight

At least five South Dakotans were charged with crimes in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, and all five appear to be included in pardons and case dismissals ordered by President Donald Trump, according to the language of a proclamation he issued Monday night.

Trump singled out 14 of the nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 defendants for sentence reductions and pardoned “all other individuals convicted,” according to his proclamation. He also ordered the U.S. attorney general to dismiss all pending indictments for people involved in the riot.

The list of sentence reductions does not include any of the five South Dakotans, which means they’re apparently covered by the pardons and case dismissals.

The five South Dakota defendants are:

Amy Willis, of Sioux Falls, who was charged with knowingly entering or remaining in a restricted building.

Darrell Goins, of Newell, who was charged with nine counts, including engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly and dangerous weapon, disorderly and disruptive conduct, entering and remaining in a restricted building, and assaulting or impeding officers.

William George Knight, of Rapid City, who was charged with eight counts, including civil disorder, assaulting, impeding or resisting officers with a deadly and dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and entering and remaining in a restricted building.

James Haffner, of Rapid City, who was charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding law enforcement, violent and unlawful entry of restricted buildings, obstructing law enforcement during a civil disorder, and entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol grounds.

Billy Knutson, of Mitchell, who served six months in federal prison for entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds.

 

THUNE, ROUNDS VOTE YES AS THE U.S. SENATE SENDS IMMIGRATION MEASURE TO HOUSE

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Ariana Figueroa/States Newsroom) – On the first day of Donald Trump’s presidency, the U.S. Senate Monday passed a bill that would require the expansion of mass detention for immigrants charged or arrested for property crimes.

In a 64-35 vote, 12 Democrats joined Republicans to send the bill, S. 5, known as the Laken Riley Act, back to the House for final passage due to two amendments that were agreed to by senators.

One amendment from Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn would add the assault of a law enforcement officer as an offense requiring mandatory detention.

Another amendment, from Sen. Joni Ernst of Iowa, would also require mandatory detention requirements for “any crime that results in death or serious bodily injury to another person.”

When the measure is passed by the House, it’ll likely be one of the first bills signed into law by Trump, an early victory after he ran a presidential campaign promising mass deportations of immigrants in the country without proper legal authorization.

Trump is set to sign 10 executive orders to put in motion his immigration crackdown at the southern border.

The bill is named after 22-year-old Laken Riley, a nursing student who was murdered by a man who immigration authorities say entered the country illegally and was previously charged with shoplifting.

The measure would not only greatly expand the detention of immigrants arrested or charged with crimes outlined in the measure, but would give state attorneys general broad discretion to challenge federal immigration policy if enacted into law.

Immigration attorneys and experts have warned the measure could have far-reaching ramifications, such as subjecting some migrants — including children and teens — to rapid detention and deportation.

They also argue that the bill would not only affect undocumented people, but would ensnare some immigrants with legal status and have the potential to interfere with the issuing of visas on the international stage.

 

CHILD-CARE POLICY PROPOSALS RETURN TO PIERRE

BROOKINGS, S.D. (Jackie Hendry / SD News Watch) – Nearly 40% of South Dakota’s child care programs have fewer kids enrolled than they can handle because of a shortage of workers, the latest South Dakota Child Care Task Force report found.

“The No. 1 issue why they were not able to have the desired enrollment was they just didn’t have the workforce,” said Republican state Sen. Tim Reed of Brookings. “So we need to be able to increase what we’re paying at the child care assistance level. And I think it’s gonna have to increase at other levels too. But we need to start there just to make sure we can keep these employees.”

The task force released its initial report on Jan. 10, days before lawmakers gaveled in for the 100th legislative session. The 60-plus-page document includes community success stories, data about the cost of child care, and policy suggestions.

The South Dakota Child Care Task Force includes child care providers, law makers, business leaders and others. It partnered with The Hunt Institute, which specializes in education policy.

The study uses market survey results from the South Dakota Department of Social Services and other data to demonstrate that child care providers are among the lowest wage-earners in the state, yet families are paying between 10-20% of their annual income on child care.

Child care revenue contributes not only to provider wages but often to other costs like rent, utilities for the space, food and other materials. If providers attempt to raise wages by increasing their prices, they risk pricing out the families they’re trying to serve. But with such low wages, many providers can’t hire or retain enough employees.

“The current model we have to child care is not sustainable,” Reed said. “Providers are struggling, and many are closing.”

Reed said his legislative priority is addressing the state’s contribution to the Child Care Assistance program.

The federal government provides Child Care and Development Block Grant funds to help low-income families who meet certain qualifications to afford care. Those grants are then handled by a lead agency.

In South Dakota’s case, that’s the Department of Social Services. According to a recent brief from the Congressional Research Service, states have flexibility in the program outside certain federal requirements.

‘We have made it work’

Some child care employees leave because they can’t afford child care for their own children.

RiAnna Kolovksy left her job with Lutheran Social Services in Sioux Falls because the level of care she wanted for her kids wasn’t financially feasible.

“This year, I would have paid over $27,000 a year to have both of these kids in child care,” she said in 2023. “Granted, it’s a good center, and it had accreditation outside of regular state accreditation. But what job can you work that makes that feasible?”

Shortly after becoming a single-income family, the Kolovsky’s moved to a small town just south of Mitchell, where RiAnna’s husband’s family had a house and job waiting for him.

In an interview with “South Dakota Focus” just before the move, she worried about managing through the long winter with limited resources and two small kids at home.

“We have made it work,” she said in a follow up interview with SDPB in late 2024. “I have also enrolled my eldest in a part-time preschool, which has alleviated a lot of tension in that she gets a little bit of an outlet, some peer interaction, some other interaction with other adults. And it gives me an opportunity to go to the store with only one child instead of two.”

In addition to caring for her children full-time, Kolovsky has built connections with other frustrated parents around the country. Through another parent’s post lamenting child care costs on Reddit, she connected with the advocacy group Mother Forward. Kolovsky and 4-year-old joined the group for a trip to Washington in December.

“There’s nothing like walking through security at 4:45 on a Friday saying, ‘Hello, I’m here to meet my senator!’” Kolovsky laughed. She was able to meeting with some of Sen. John Thune’s staffers, but that wasn’t the only goal of the trip.

“I also hoped to strengthen bonds with the women that I’ve been meeting with online for the last almost two years,” Kolovsky said. “And that was just so life-giving in the way that having an in-person community is.”

‘Child care not a sustainable model’

Back at home, Kolovsky advocates for accessible child care however she can, from Children’s Day at the Capitol in Pierre to engaging in conversations over coffee with skeptical neighbors.

“You know, there was a woman who said that in her experience as a child care provider, parents might not always adjust their budgets accordingly and that might be why they feel that child care is too expensive. I met with her for coffee, and we now have a great working relationship in which we can agree on where changes need to be made.”

Kolovsky understands the catch-22 in which child care providers find themselves based on her experience working with Lutheran Social Services. She remembers speaking to a local National Exchange Club and being asked how her center justified their prices.

“And I said at the time, ‘I’m not sure it matters because that child care center is now closed,’” Kolovsky remembered. “Child care is not a sustainable business model, and it never has been since its inception. And I hope that more people are recognizing that this isn’t just an issue of everyone should just have a parent stay home. That’s not possible for all families.”

Policy proposals yet to come

In addition to adjustments to the Child Care Assistance program, the Child Care Task Force suggests scholarships for those entering the child care workforce. It also suggests making parents who join the child care workforce eligible for child care assistance themselves.

Reed said the task force focused its policy proposals on improving the child care workforce.

“All this really comes down to money,” he said. “And if we don’t have the money available, this is going to be very tough to do.”

With many lawmakers concerned about a limited budget – particularly with high price tag projects like the new men’s prison already in the works – any state investment in child care is likely to be a hard sell.

Not to mention the 100th legislature features a larger-than-typical number of lawmakers who are newly elected to office. But Reed believes the strain on families and additional information provided by the task force will come a long way in communicating the need for action.

“We went through it when it came to skilled care facilities, right?” he said. “We were starving them and they were closing. And that’s going to continue to happen here. So we have to figure this out, like we figured out (how) to increase the funding that was needed for skilled care facilities to make sure that they could stay viable, especially in a rural community. The same thing is going to happen. We’re gonna lose child care in the rural communities first, and then it’s really hard for those smaller towns to be able to grow.”