WASHINGTON: A man charged over the Jan 6, 2021 assault on the US Capitol, and pardoned by President Donald Trump, was killed by police during a traffic stop, according to officials.

Matthew Huttle, 42, was killed by a sheriff’s deputy on Sunday after he “resisted” arrest during a traffic stop in northwest Indiana, a state police statement said.

“An altercation took place between the suspect and the officer, which resulted in the officer firing his weapon and fatally wounding the suspect,” the statement said, without providing further details, except that Huttle was in possession of a firearm.

US media outlets identified Huttle as one of the approximately 1,500 people charged or convicted for participating in the Capitol assault who were pardoned by Trump.

The move by Trump just hours after he took office last week drew fierce criticism from Democrats and some pushback from Republicans for including people convicted of violently attacking police. Huttle was sentenced to six months in prison and was released last July, local news outlet FOX59 said.

His uncle also participated in the Jan 6 assault and was sentenced last year to 30 months in prison, the news station said, after he pled guilty to assaulting police officers with a flag pole.

Media reports have also said another pardon recipient, Daniel Ball of Florida, was quickly rearrested last week over a federal gun charge that predated the Capitol attack.

Published in Dawn, January 29th, 2025

Opinion

Editorial

The Peca problem
Updated 15 Feb, 2025

The Peca problem

The fight for fundamental freedoms is not the media’s alone, but one that concerns every citizen.
Miners in danger
15 Feb, 2025

Miners in danger

YESTERDAY’S devastating terrorist attack in Harnai, which killed at least 11 coal miners and injured seven others,...
Solar panels scam
15 Feb, 2025

Solar panels scam

THE scam involving over-invoicing to the tune of more than Rs69bn in the import of solar panels raises many ...
Dangerous times
Updated 14 Feb, 2025

Dangerous times

Pakistan accounted for six journalist killings in 2024, of which three were deliberately murdered, according to the CPJ.
Difficult target
14 Feb, 2025

Difficult target

A ONE-two punch delivered by an unforeseen, sharp dip in inflation and an extremely slim base of taxpayers is...
Amazing show
14 Feb, 2025

Amazing show

PAKISTAN’S ability to turn it up at the flick of a switch remains uninhibited. The latest show came in...