Pardoned Jan. 6 Defendant Arrested a Day After Getting Break From Trump
One former Jan. 6 suspect’s hopes of post-pardon freedom have been dashed for now.
Daniel Ball, a 39-year-old Florida man, was arrested on a federal gun charge a day after Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon for the majority of those accused—or convicted—of crimes related to events of Jan. 6, 2021.
The firearm charge was filed in Washington and first reported by Politico, which added that Ball’s arrest was the first federal warrant filed in the nation’s capital during Trump’s second term.
Related:
Trump issues sweeping pardon of 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants, including rioters who attacked police
Despite an emotional call to his parents—where he can be heard saying “it’s been a long 20 months for me”—to discuss his pardon on Monday, records show Ball was never released from a D.C. jail.
Ball was charged in August with possessing a firearm in Florida as a felon, but had been unable to appear due to his detention. While the charge was filed in Florida, WUSA9 reports the alleged discovery of a firearm stemmed from a raid of his home that was tied to his Jan. 6 charges.
Ball, who faced 12 charges related to his alleged Jan. 6 actions, was staring down years in prison if convicted.
Federal investigators had accused him of setting off an explosive device in a Capitol tunnel on Jan. 6. NBC News reported at the time of his arrest, in 2023, that he was the only alleged rioter to face charges for allegedly setting off an explosive.
A criminal affidavit claimed the tunnel explosion was “the most memorable event that day” for many officers who were interviewed by the FBI.
“Some thought it was a fragmentation grenade and anticipated pain or significant injury,” the affidavit said. “Some thought they were going to die. Some officers suffered psychological trauma from the explosion.”
One officer told investigators they suffered from “hearing impairment lasting months.”
Ball has previous convictions for strangulation, domestic violence, and for resisting law enforcement with violence. A now-dormant Facebook page, which listed his ex-employers as a Chili’s and a Mexican restaurant, chronicled his outrage after the 2020 election.
“I’ll bet $100 against any liberal, ill beat them on an IQ test.. available all day today, for any takers,” he wrote on Nov. 28, 2020.
It also documented his disdain for COVID-19 vaccines.
“New York just passed mandated vaccines,” he posted on Nov. 11, 2020. “People of New York, it’s time to become violent, or a slave.”
Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 people with the stroke of a pen on Monday—a decision he apparently arrived at during his transition. While debating whether he should or not, Trump reportedly told advisers, “‘F–k it. Release ‘em all.”
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DAILY BEAST