Capitol Riot Defendant Rearrested on Firearms Charge Just One Day After Trump’s Clemency Order Dismissal
"Florida Man..." says it all!
Daniel Ball, a Florida man and former defendant in the January 6 Capitol riot case, has been rearrested on a firearms charge—only a day after his case was dismissed under President Donald Trump's sweeping clemency order.
Ball, who has a lengthy criminal history, was taken into custody and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Investigators found a loaded .22-caliber rifle and explosive devices during a 2023 FBI search of his home, initially tied to his involvement in the Capitol riot.
Ball’s criminal record includes multiple felony convictions, including domestic battery by strangulation and assault on a law enforcement officer. During the Capitol riot, Ball allegedly threw an explosive device at officers defending the Lower West Terrace Tunnel, with one explosion causing "officers and rioters to flinch in unison," according to an affidavit. Despite Trump’s order pardoning over 1,500 individuals and dismissing hundreds of cases, federal prosecutors clarified that unrelated charges, such as firearm possession, remain prosecutable.
On Tuesday, Ball's Capitol riot charges were officially dropped, but the subsequent firearms charge underscores the complexities of blanket clemency orders. With the clemency covering only offenses directly tied to January 6, prosecutors continue pursuing cases involving post-riot offenses, such as illegal possession of firearms.
Source: Capitol riot defendant rearrested on firearm charge one day after Jan. 6 case dismissed