Over 1,500 defendants convicted in the January 6th, 2021 riot at the United States capitol were pardoned by President Donald Trump, and among them were three men from the Chattanooga area.

These three men are Joseph Lino Padilla and Chad Bannister Hedgcock from Cleveland Tennessee, and William Frederick Beals from Ringgold.

Padilla was sentenced in September of 2023 to 6 and 1/2 years in Federal prison. Padilla said he is thankful to Trump for keeping his promise on the pardons. Padilla was sentenced for pushing against barricades and throwing a flagpole at a police officer’s head during the riot.

Hedgecock was charged with entering and remaining within a restricted building or grounds, as well as disorderly conduct in a restricted building, disorderly conduct in a capitol building, picketing or demonstrating in a capital building, and even pled guilty to disorderly conduct in a capitol building and parading as well as picketing or demonstrating.

Last year in May, Beals pled guilty to entering and remaining in a restrictive building as well as disorderly and disruptive conduct, and breaching the US capital twice during the 2021 riot. He was sentenced to 36 months of probation to pay $500 to the architect of the capital.

Retired federal attorney John Cavett said that Trump’s pardons send a frightening message. A message, he claims, implies that a person can do whatever they want with no need to worry about consequences if someone messes with the president. A message he claims is a danger to the country.