“It’s surreal,” said David Judd while it snowed in north Texas. Judd had received 32 months in prison for his involvement in the January 6 incident at the capitol in 2021. “It absolutely doesn’t feel real at all.” 

President Trump had just pardoned over 1,500 January 6 defendants, also known as J6ers.

“He stood by us, and I’ve never been more proud,” said Judd.

Mark and Jalise Middleton, a couple who spent three months in prison with Mark facing 30 months and Jalise 20 months’ imprisonment, remembered the announcement. 

“It was surreal because we sat there all day long with bated breath in anticipation of seeing President Trump take office, and all of these prisoners, you know, the hope wasn’t there for most of them,” said Mark. “They were simply hopeful for us. It was truly amazing.”

The prisoners ran out of their cells in the women’s prison and celebrated with Jalise.

“It was so beautiful,” said Jalise. “Those people were so ecstatic for us. A woman even picked me up and jumped around in circles with me in her arms […] These people didn’t care about anything but that absolute joy of seeing us set free.”

Mark was out in two hours, but the staff did not wish to release Jalise because it was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday; they told her she would be released the next day. 

Hearing this, their daughter, Larry Brock—a Fort Worth-based J6er—and friends rallied the public to call the prison to release her immediately.

Finally, the caseworker got her at 9 p.m., and the guards walked her out the iron doors at 11:58 p.m., two minutes before the midnight deadline.

Leftwing media continues to label those who protested the 2020 General Election results on January 6, 2021, as “insurrectionists,” yet no one was charged with insurrection.

“You don’t overthrow the US government with no firearms,” said Donald Hazard of Fort Worth, who faced 57 months in prison on nearly a dozen enhanced J6-related charges.

Hazard was concerned that Trump would review the sentences on a case-by-case basis. Hazard had violent charges and assumed he might get his sentence commuted, but the felony would mean he could not own a firearm, leaving him unprotected for life. 

Trump’s pardon came as a pleasant and well-received surprise.

“I’m ecstatic about it, but the whole gravity of the whole thing is still kind of setting in,” remarked Hazard. “Thank God we got the full unconditional pardon, which restores 100% of your rights.”

Others, like Richard Barnard, said a pardon does little for those like him who have misdemeanors and completed their sentence.

“That part is not the problem,” said Barnard. “I’ve already lived through the process, and the process was the penalty.”

Barnard took a plea deal for a charge of parading because the Department of Justice threatened his friend and co-defendant, Shane Witcher, with a felony if Barnard refused. This landed Witcher and his wife on the no-fly list. Barnard said that Witcher requested help from U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Rep. Chip Roy to get off the list.

Meanwhile, Barnard lost all his savings and retirement—over half a million dollars—and was nearly unemployed for a year. Other J6ers have echoed similar sentiments online.

“Had my house not been paid off, we’d have lost our house; if our cars had not been paid off, we’d have lost our cars; that was their goal,” said Barnard.

Barnard credits following the advice of financial commentator Dave Ramsey for his situation. He has a source of income he keeps private and withheld his location as he explained his wife was “targeted” since his conviction.

“I don’t go to Christmas parties,” Barnard said. “I avoid those kinds of things, just so it won’t affect her.”

The arrest, hostile national media attention, and legal costs are overwhelming for some J6 families. Many have lost their marriages or family connections. Some have even taken their lives.

In response, the Middletons established a nonprofit called American Patriot Relief. It raises money for J6 families to meet their basic needs, helps fund prisoner commissaries (trust fund accounts), maintains a suicide hotline, and aids families with travel expenses to Washington, D.C., for court appearances.

“The punishment was in the process, and there are things that will never go away,” said Judd. “There’s things that I’m just always haunted with, always stuck with.”

His faith in God helped him through the ordeal as he led a prison ministry. 

“I put this whole thing in God’s hands, and I never really doubted it, and I just knew that he’s been with me and all of us through this whole thing, and he’s never failed,” said Judd.

Despite what he endured, Barnard said he has “not one” regret about attending the J6 rally.

“It was a great time; we went to the rally, and it was amazing. I was meeting so many people,” said Barnard.

Mark Middleton had no regrets, either. 

Hazard said his only regret was “being outsmarted by the left” as it was “a setup.” He expressed gratitude that Trump supporters did not escalate despite police attempting to, which helped garner public support and fuel momentum for Trump’s pardons. 

“Everyone really busted their asses to pull things together, and whether it be finances or logistics,” said Hazard. “The whole thing turned into a movement, you know, yeah, so I love all those folks. They’re great. God bless them. God Bless America.” 

“It’s one thing to support a new trendy thing you see on Instagram for a month, and then you kind of move on,” Judd said. “But for non-stop four years, some of these people didn’t go and didn’t have any family members and still stayed with us; it’s just been unbelievable.”

All five J6ers mentioned that they had joined class action lawsuits against the government and were seeking monetary damages, which they hope will help rebuild their former lives.

Until then, they are working to help J6 families however they can.

Barnard introduced a publisher to the creators of The American Gulag Chronicles, which is now in its second volume. Proceeds from book sales go to the J6 families.

In addition to running American Patriot Relief, the Middletons are working to reform the judicial system and get rid of the FBI.

Their maltreatment influenced State Rep. Andy Hopper (R-Decatur) to file House Bill 1982. If passed, it would strengthen the Tenth Amendment by excluding federal agents from peace officer licenses and limiting federal warrants so that Texas sheriffs may determine who enforces county laws. Hopper’s office confirmed that Mark had directly given him the idea. 

“I’m going to spend my life trying to clean up our judicial system and remove the FBI from our government. That’s my goal,” said Jalise.

Meanwhile, Judd will continue with the Pardon Project as more work remains. He also plans to help host a reunion with J6 families.

“I’m going to be a part of the J6 Road Home project,” said Hazard. “I’m going to be helping build these tiny homes for the guys and girls that don’t have anywhere to go.”

“My best days are definitely ahead and not behind,” said Hazard. “There’s definitely better days ahead for me.”

Ian Camacho

Ian Camacho graduated from Syracuse University’s S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications and is a Precinct Chair for the McLennan County Republican Party. Follow him on X @RealIanCamacho and Substack (iancamacho.substack.com)

RELATED POSTS