A former FBI agent named Steve Friend, now a podcaster, has spoken out about Donald Trump's pardons for those involved in the January 6 protests. Friend, who was fired and faced persecution for questioning the government's actions against the protestors, praised Trump’s decision as the right one. He believes that the federal government acted improperly by not following due process during the cases of January 6 defendants, suggesting that all such cases should be reevaluated and all defendants released due to the tainted nature of the process.
Friend indicates that some Jan. 6 prisoners were set to be released from the D. C. jail, referred to as a “Gulag,” following these pardons, although their release had not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. He emphasized that whistleblowers from the FBI, including himself, have now been validated after years of alleged corruption within the agency. Friend noted that he raised concerns to his superiors about the issues at the FBI but faced retaliation for being a whistleblower.
Friend and others involved in the whistleblower group, known as “The Suspendables,” hope to be reinstated, receive back pay, and initiate significant changes within the FBI and DOJ. Friend mentioned that any FBI agent handling open cases related to January 6 should take heed of the current situation related to pardons.
Despite the pardons, there were reports that prisons and halfway houses across the country were slow to release Jan. 6 prisoners. The D. C. jail was particularly noted for refusing to cooperate with the pardons. Members of the House Freedom Caucus traveled to the jail in response to reports of defiance from the prison and police authorities regarding Trump’s pardons. This situation unfolded in contrast to other pardons made by President Biden, which included individuals convicted of serious crimes.
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