Indiana Man Killed by Police Days After Trump’s January 6th Pardon

Days after being pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6th Capitol insurrection, Indiana resident Matthew Huttle was killed by police during a traffic stop. Huttle had resisted arrest and had a firearm on him at the time. His death raises questions about the implications of Trump's pardons for those involved in the riot.

Matthew Huttle, a 42-year-old Indiana man recently granted clemency by former President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6th Capitol insurrection, was shot and killed by police during a routine traffic stop. The incident occurred on Sunday, just days after Huttle was pardoned along with nearly 1,600 others linked to the Capitol riot.

According to an Indiana State Police (ISP) report, Huttle was pulled over during a traffic stop, during which he allegedly resisted arrest and engaged in "an altercation" with an officer. What led to the traffic stop, or the specific charges against him, has not been disclosed. It was confirmed that Huttle was in possession of a firearm at the time of the incident.

Huttle was part of a larger group of individuals involved in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, where supporters of Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol Building. He spent approximately ten minutes inside the Capitol during the chaos and was sentenced to six months in prison as part of a plea deal. Following his release from custody in July 2024, he expressed no remorse for his actions, with his uncle, Dale Huttle, asserting that participating in the riot was a patriotic duty.

The officer involved in the shooting has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an investigation led by the Indiana State Police. Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson stated he requested the inquiry to ensure transparency.

Huttle's death is not an isolated incident; another individual pardoned by Trump, Florida's Daniel Bell, was recently rearrested on federal gun charges. Among those pardoned were numerous high-profile figures from far-right groups, including leaders of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. Trump had claimed that the legal consequences faced by these participants were excessive, stating, "These people have been destroyed."

However, not everyone supports Trump's approach. Prominent Republican Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina criticized the pardons, particularly for those who used violence during the riot. He labelled it a "mistake" to pardon individuals who assaulted law enforcement officers.

The ramifications of the pardons, the actions of the pardoned individuals, and the related incidents continue to stir debate in the political arena.