A military veteran from Missouri, Eric Peterson, who was involved in the January 6 Capitol riots, has been given permission to return to Washington, D.C., for a historic event. Peterson, known for wearing a bright pink shirt during the riots, has been allowed to attend Donald Trump’s upcoming inauguration after a federal judge approved his request.
Peterson pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges earlier this year for entering the Capitol on January 6, 2021. He admitted to being inside for about eight minutes without proper authorization but wasn’t involved in any violence or vandalism. His lawyer, Michael Bullotta, argued that Peterson, a business owner and military veteran with no prior criminal history, poses no danger to anyone. Peterson claimed he wasn’t aware of the chaos and violence happening on the other side of the Capitol when he decided to go there from his vacation rental in Washington.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan, who had previously dismissed Trump’s election fraud case, approved Peterson’s request to travel, allowing him to be in the Kansas City Metropolitan area during his trip. All other conditions of his probation remain unchanged.
Peterson isn’t the only one seeking permission to attend Trump’s swearing-in. Others involved in the Capitol riots are also asking judges to let them travel to Washington for the event. One of them, Russell Taylor from California, has a more serious history. Taylor, who brought weapons like a knife and bear spray to the Capitol, is also on probation after serving six months for his role in the riots. He argued he should be allowed to attend the inauguration because he is a guest of a former congressman and has been compliant with court orders. However, prosecutors strongly opposed his request, pointing out that Taylor had previously organized a group of people for January 6, urging them to bring weapons and take part in breaching the Capitol.
Another person, Cindy Young, who was convicted of several misdemeanors for her actions on January 6, also asked for permission to attend. She argued that she doesn’t pose a threat, but prosecutors disagreed. They pointed out that Young never admitted guilt and was convicted by a jury. They also highlighted her actions on January 6, where she helped overwhelm officers defending the House of Representatives. Prosecutors believe her behavior was serious enough to warrant restrictions on her travel, including staying away from Washington, D.C.
While Peterson has been granted permission to travel, the cases for Taylor and Young remain undecided. Their requests face significant opposition from prosecutors, who argue that the nature of their actions during the Capitol riots makes it inappropriate for them to return to Washington, even for an event as significant as an inauguration.
