New Maryland bills seek to block Jan. 6 rioters pardoned by Trump from state office

Uniformed FBI agent helps clear US Capitol of rioters Jan. 6, 2021. Photo: Matt Laslo

By Scott MacFarlane for WTOP

MARYLAND — Montgomery County State Senate Democrat Cheryl Kagan pushing new bill that would prohibit any convicted January 6 rioter from being appointed to any Maryland State board, task force or commission.

Kagan argues Maryland should be on the forefront of ensuring some accountability for pardoned January 6 rioters, and she notes the issue is not just theoretical. One of the arrested January 6 defendants was a former state elections board member.

Next one coming Rockville State Senate Democrat Cheryl Kagan is pushing this new measure to prohibit any pardoned January 6 convicted rioter from being appointed to a Maryland State board, task force or commission.

Testifying alongside Kagan in support of the bill was January 6 responder and former US Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn, who says it's important for accountability and that victims and police can't move on from January 6 until there is some accountability.

This piece first aired on WTOP.