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Versailles man among hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants pardoned this week, believes he shouldn’t have been charged

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Versailles man was one of the many people pardoned by President Donald Trump this week for their alleged roles in the Capitol riots on Jan. 6, 2021.

Matt Loganbill said the decision to make the 17-hour drive to Washington D.C. that day wasn't one that was planned far out.

A day and a half before, Loganbill said he decided to make the drive along with his two friends to show support for Trump.

"We didn't think the results were valid and we thought that they needed to slow down and take another look at it," Loganbill said.

False claims about the validity of the 2020 presidential election were spread on social media in the months following the election. Hundreds of people were charged for their alleged roles on Jan. 6

Federal prosecutors claim Loganbill was among the rioters who went into the Capitol to disrupt the certification of now-former President Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election victory. Loganbill wore a helmet and gas mask carrying a backpack and American flag and entered the Upper West Terrace doors after outnumbered police officers retreated, according to previous reporting.

This image shared in court documents in March 2021 appears to show a Versailles man at the U.S. Capitol in Washington D.C on Jan. 6, 2021. [Previously filed court documents]

He was indicted in September 2021 on five counts related to his conduct at the Capitol on Jan. 6 of that year. A judge dismissed charges against Loganbill in August 2023 without prejudice, meaning the charges were able to be refiled.

Loganbill was eventually found guilty in November 2023 of a felony and four misdemeanors: Obstructing an official proceeding, entering and remaining in restricted grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Court records show a motion to dismiss the indictment against Loganbill was filed on Jan. 21. The move follows Trump's series of pardons and commutations of individuals convicted of offenses related to the day.

Nearly 1,600 individuals charged in connection with the attack were pardoned, while 14 individuals convicted or charged with higher profile charges had their sentences commuted.

Loganbill alleges the day started off as a "peaceful rally" and claimed he didn't personally see any violent altercations with police. He said he remembers arriving to to the Capitol after learning Trump possibly planning to speak there. Trump had made those intentions known during a rally earlier in the day.

From there, he says he heard people shouting "U-S-A" and "Trump" and claimed to see police throwing what looked like teargas into a portion of the crowd. Loganbill said he then walked toward the side of the Capitol where inaugurations take place, where he claims people were still peacefully shouting "Trump."

"Then, the police did shoot some tear gas into the crowd...fired some rubber bullets. I think that that's what set everyone off and what started the whole thing in my opinion," Loganbill said.

He also claimed he was allowed into the Rotunda by officers on scene and spent roughly 10 or 15 minutes walking around it. He claims police officers eventually allowed the crowd inside to exit the Capitol after confusion about which door they should exit through and he eventually left, without engaging in any violent acts, he said.

Several Republican lawmakers have had mixed thoughts about Trump's decision, some of which say they fully back the president's decision, while others said they disagree with pardons for violent offenders.

State Rep. David Tyson Smith (D-Columbia) said he finds the pardons disgusting and called the riots an "attack on one of our most sacred institutions."

Smith said he finds the pardons to be a double wound to the police officers who were injured and killed in the riot.

"To let them (rioters) go sends the wrong message to America and to our citizens. It says treason is OK, sedition is OK. I mean, these people are traitors and they need to be treated so and for him to just wipe it all away...all of them is is revolting," Smith said.

The Department of Justice said about 140 law enforcement officers were injured during the riot. Officer Brian Sicknick died after the riot after suffering a stroke.

Smith also said he fears it sends the message to those who engaged in the acts that day that they can act in violent ways again in the future and will be pardoned by Trump again.

U.S. Rep. Mark Alford (R-MO) told ABC 17 News via email Wednesday that he supports Trump's decision to grant pardons as he chooses.

"As such, I support President Trump’s leadership and I trust that President Trump knows what he is doing and keeps America’s best interest with each of his decisions," the statement says.

Loganbill believes he shouldn't have been charged, but also said he doesn't necessarily agree with those who assaulted law enforcement that day being pardoned.

"I think those cases should be looked at individually case by case," Loganbill said.

Article Topic Follows: National News

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Nia Hinson

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