Trump to Host ‘Awards Gala’ for Capitol Rioters from January 6

Donald Trump has initiated a new gesture aimed at those convicted in connection with the Capitol riot, planning to host an awards gala for them.

On September 5, Trump will hold a “J6 Awards Gala” at his Bedminster golf club in New Jersey. Among the potential speakers are Trump himself and Rudy Giuliani, though their attendance has not been confirmed.

The promotional materials for the event highlight the opportunity for attendees to win a plaque titled “Justice for All,” featuring both Donald J. Trump and the J6 Prison Choir. This plaque commemorates a jailhouse song that briefly charted on Billboard, which includes Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance alongside the rioters singing the national anthem.

According to the event description, the gala will function as a tribute not only to the individuals convicted but also to all defendants from January 6, who are said to have demonstrated remarkable courage and sacrifice.

In a promotional video, Trump refers to the convicts as “peaceful” individuals and labels them “J6 hostages.” He promises that if he is elected president again, he would consider granting them pardons.

Trump claims in the video that, “There has never been a group of people treated so harshly or unfairly.” The event aims to gather funds for a legal fund associated with the Capitol riot cases.

While titled an “awards gala,” there has not been any disclosure about the nature of the awards that might be distributed during the event.

Previously, there was an attempt to host a similar event, which was postponed. Promotional materials from that attempt indicated ticket prices ranging from $2,500 for individual attendees to $50,000 for a table of 12, which would include a speaker seated among the attendees.

Fortunately for Trump, this gala is set to occur before he is formally sentenced, which is scheduled for September 18. He is facing sentencing for 34 felony counts related to the Stormy Daniels hush money case in New York.

Once sentenced, Trump will officially become a felon, which means he would be “legally prohibited from associating with other felons,” according to Tristan Snell, an attorney who previously prosecuted him in the Trump University case.

Although the gala might be conducted legally, it remains questionable whether it will elicit any sympathy for Trump as he prepares to face Judge Juan Merchan at the upcoming sentencing date.

More than 1,230 individuals have been charged with various federal offenses linked to their involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. The charges range from misdemeanors to serious allegations such as seditious conspiracy associated with groups like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers.

Out of those charged, approximately 730 individuals have pleaded guilty to their offenses, while around 170 have been convicted of at least one charge related to the riot.