U.S. drops charges against 129 inauguration day protesters

Show Caption Hide Caption Protesters still in court year after Trump’s election As the president celebrates the end of one year at the White House, the majority of those arrested protesting his presidency still face decades in prison.

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Attorney's office is dropping charges against 129 people accused of rioting in Washington, D.C., on President Trump's inauguration day.

Prosecutors, in documents filed late Thursday afternoon, said the decision was made in light of a verdict last month, which found the first six defendants to stand trial for the charges not guilty.

In a statement, the government said it was exercising discretion, "so that it can focus its efforts on this smaller, core group that we believe is most responsible for the destruction and violence that took place on Inauguration Day."

Violent protests on Jan. 20, 2017, resulted in 234 people being charged or arrested with mostly felony charges. At the time of Thursday's filing, 188 people had pending charges.

The government said it will move forward with the remaining 59, which, it said, engaged in the destruction of downtown D.C., helped plan the demonstration and displayed "black-bloc" tactics.

Prosecutors will file motions to dismiss for the 129 defendants.

It's a massive win for the protesters and their supporters, who for months have urged the government to drop the charges. Many had claimed prosecutors were dragging the defendants through the legal process in order to send a message.

At the first trial, prosecutors conceded there was no evidence to support that the six defendants had committed any violence. Instead, they tried to explain the protesters were complicit in the violence because they did not remove themselves from the destruction. But a jury found all being tried not guilty on all counts.

"This has been a long road, but we're pleased that the government, albeit belatedly, saw fit to drop this case," said Sheridan England, an attorney for Adam Simpson, whose charges were dropped Thursday.

Previously, about 20 defendants have had their cases dismissed and another 20 have pleaded to lesser charges, often misdemeanor rioting carrying a fine and community service. One person, Dane Powell, 32, went to prison. He pleaded guilty to felony rioting and assault on a police officer. He received a four-month prison term.

Follow Sean Rossman on Twitter: @SeanRossman

Read more: