{"id":2517471,"date":"2025-12-04T11:19:02","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:19:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-boasberg-allows-refunds-for-pardoned-jan-6-defendants\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T11:20:46","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T16:20:46","slug":"judge-boasberg-allows-refunds-for-pardoned-jan-6-defendants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/judge-boasberg-allows-refunds-for-pardoned-jan-6-defendants\/","title":{"rendered":"Judge Boasberg allows refunds for pardoned Jan. 6 defendants"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fjudge-boasberg-allows-refunds-for-pardoned-jan-6-defendants%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2517471&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>A federal judge, James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, has ordered the government to refund restitution payments and fines paid by a Maryland couple, Cynthia Ballenger and Christopher Price, who were convicted in connection to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Although Boasberg initially denied their request to recover these payments, he reversed his decision following the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacating the couple&#8217;s misdemeanor convictions. The appeals court&#8217;s vacatur, which effectively nullifies the convictions, led Boasberg to conclude that the government must return any payments made as a result of those convictions. The couple had also received pardons from former President Donald Trump while their appeal was pending. Judge Boasberg has faced criticism from Republican lawmakers over other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wnba-superstar-brittney-griner-heads-to-sham-trial-russian-court-system-under-microscope\/\" title=\"WNBA Superstar Brittney Griner Heads to \u201cSham Trial,\u201d Russian ... System Under Microscope\">politically sensitive cases<\/a>, with some calling for his impeachment due to his role in authorizing subpoenas for personal data of conservative lawmakers.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<p><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><?xml encoding=\"utf-8\" ?><\/p>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-header-search-button-mob dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><span class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-button\"><i class=\"tdb-mobile-menu-icon td-icon-mobile\"><\/i><\/span><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search\" aria-labelledby=\"td-header-search-button\">\n<div class=\"tdb-drop-down-search-inner\">\n<form method=\"get\" class=\"tdb-search-form\" action=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/\"><\/form>\n<div class=\"tdb-aj-search\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/#\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"Search\" class=\"tdb-head-search-btn dropdown-toggle\" data-toggle=\"dropdown\"><i class=\"tdb-search-icon td-icon-search\"><\/i><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<h1 class=\"tdb-title-text\">Judge Boasberg allows refunds for pardoned Jan. 6 defendants after previous denial<\/h1>\n<div><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-title-line\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\">\n<div id=\"Brid_2401809\" class=\"tpd-featured-video bridtv\"><\/div>\n<p>A federal <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/judges\/\">judge <\/a>on Wednesday ordered the government to refund restitution payments made and fines incurred by a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/maryland\/\">Maryland <\/a>couple after an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/appeals-court-tosses-nra-free-speech-lawsuit-against-former-new-york-official-washington-examiner\/\" title=\"Appeals ... tosses NRA free speech lawsuit against former New York official - Washington Examiner\">appeals court tossed<\/a> their convictions related to Jan. 6, 2021.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Chief Judge James Boasberg of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia had previously denied in June <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.thebanner.com\/national\/marylanders-january-6-insurrection-donald-trump-XEMTUPETMRBEXP622RDWEMLMWQ\/\">Cynthia Ballenger and Christopher Price<\/a>&rsquo;s motion to recoup roughly $1,000 in payments. Ballenger and her husband initially sought to regain $570 each in March, after they were among a slew of Jan. 6 defendants who received pardons from President Donald Trump.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class=\"recommended-stories\">\n<h2>Recommended Stories<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3905579\/one-in-five-immigration-judges-out-of-job\/\">One in five immigration judges out of a job as Trump officials remake court<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3905912\/ghislaine-maxwell-pushes-back-on-full-transparency-for-epstein-files\/\">Ghislaine Maxwell pushes back on full transparency for Epstein files<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3905637\/deadly-ups-plane-crash-kentucky-wrongful-death-lawsuits\/\">Deadly UPS plane crash in Kentucky hit with first <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >wrongful death lawsuits<\/a><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>This week, Boasberg reversed his position, citing the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals&rsquo; recent move to vacate the couple&rsquo;s misdemeanor convictions.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;In plain English, vacatur &mdash; unlike a pardon &mdash; &lsquo;wholly nullifie[s]&rsquo; the vacated order and &lsquo;wipes the slate clean,&rsquo;&rdquo; Boasberg wrote in a new memo order.&nbsp; &ldquo;Having viewed the question afresh, the Court now agrees with defendants.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>In the case of Ballenger and Price, the couple was pardoned by Trump in January, as the appeal they made challenging their convictions was still pending in a higher court. Because the appeals were mooted by the pardons, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals vacated the convictions entirely, leading Boasburg to reason that the financial penalties the couple had already paid under previous judgments should be refunded.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Even if defendants&rsquo; pardon does not entitle them to refunds, the resulting vacatur of their convictions might,&rdquo; Boasberg wrote.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;Because the court could order defendants to pay assessments and restitution, it can order those payments reversed,&rdquo; he added. &ldquo;When a conviction is vacated, the government must return any payments exacted because of it.&rdquo;<\/p>\n<p>The Washington, D.C. judge is the same official who has attracted sweeping criticism from GOP lawmakers in Congress for <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3891969\/james-boasberg-resumes-contempt-inquiry-trump-alien-enemies-act-deportation-case\/\">other cases <\/a>related to the Trump administration. A group of Republicans is now calling <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3889533\/senators-ask-dc-circuit-suspend-james-boasberg-pending-impeachment-vote\/\">for his impeachment<\/a>, due partly to revelations that the judge <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/3872114\/cruz-biden-fbi-arctic-frost-watergate\/\">signed off on subpoenas<\/a> ordering phone companies to hand over the records and personal data of multiple sitting conservative lawmakers to the government.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/3868459\/bidens-watergate-jack-smith-sought-197-subpoenas-in-arctic-frost-investigation\/\"><strong>&lsquo;BIDEN&rsquo;S WATERGATE&rsquo;: JACK SMITH SOUGHT 197 SUBPOENAS IN ARCTIC FROST INVESTIGATION<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>&ldquo;We now know that Judge Boasberg signed the gag orders for Members of Congress without evidentiary support&hellip;.this legal slander by Judge Boasberg will not be ignored,&rdquo; Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) wrote <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/LindseyGrahamSC\/status\/1996402151057195452\">in a post<\/a> to X on Wednesday.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;&ldquo;There must be consequences for these blatant abuses of legal process,&rdquo; he added.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"tdb-block-inner td-fix-index\"><\/div>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Judge Boasberg orders refunds for pardoned Jan. 6 defendants<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3142,"featured_media":2517472,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/District-Judge-James-Boasberg.webp?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[36978,52352,68216,10256],"class_list":["post-2517471","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-january-6","tag-judge-boasberg","tag-pardoned-defendants","tag-refunds"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/District-Judge-James-Boasberg.webp?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517471","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3142"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2517471"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517471\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2517475,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2517471\/revisions\/2517475"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2517472"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2517471"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2517471"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2517471"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}