ATLANTA — More than two dozen people with ties to Georgia have been either charged or convicted of crimes related to the riot at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021.
However, they could soon receive a clean slate from President-elect Donald Trump.
During a CNN-hosted town hall conversation in 2023, an audience member asked Trump, "Would you pardon the January Sixth rioters that were convicted of federal offenses?"
Trump replied, "I'm inclined to pardon many of them."
Earlier this year, during an interview in Chicago at a convention for the National Association of Black Journalists, Trump was asked by Rachel Scott of ABC News, "Those rioters who assaulted officers. Would you pardon those people?"
"Absolutely I would," Trump said. "If they're innocent, I would pardon them."
"They've been convicted," Scott replied.
"Well, they were convicted by a very tough system," Trump said.
Prosecutors have charged more than 1,500 people and secured more than 1,000 convictions related to the Jan. 6 riot.
The crimes range from illegally entering the capitol to seditious conspiracy and assaulting officers.
More than two dozen people with ties to Georgia were arrested. Some have been found guilty, and others are still awaiting trial.
Emory University School of Law Professor John Acevedo said a mass pardon from Trump would impact all of them.
"It would clear the record for anyone who has been convicted. For those in the process, it would stop the process," Acevedo said.
For people currently serving time for convictions related to the riot, a pardon would allow them to be released.
"It won't be instantaneous," Acevedo said. "It won't be in like the inaugural address he announces, 'I hear by pardon them,' and they're released by noon that day; paperwork takes a while as always."
Bruno Cua was only 18 years old when he walked onto the floor of the U.S. Senate on Jan. 6.
He was the youngest Georgian arrested, and he has been convicted of two felonies, including assaulting a police officer. Especially for Cua and other young defendants who have been charged or convicted of a felony, a pardon from Trump would be a game changer, according to Acevedo.
"They would have the opportunity now to get federal loans, student loans. They would not have to, you know, check the box, as it is called, that you're a felon. They would be free to vote."
Federal investigators are still searching for wanted suspects, and in late October, Cylester Maxwell of Alpharetta became the latest Georgian arrested. Prosecutors in court records have accused him of assaulting officers during the riot.
Acevedo said that, in addition to pardons, Trump could put an end to any more arrests.
"It may also be as simple as he directs the FBI to stop looking for these people. So just end all investigations; don't look into it any further," he said.
A mass pardon of individuals connected to Jan. 6 would be the largest round of pardons since 2023, when President Joe Biden issued pardons for people convicted of federal, simple marijuana charges.
Whether the pardon is for charges connected to Jan. 6 or marijuana, Acevedo said once the pardon is official, it cannot be undone.
"One president cannot undo the pardon of another president, so these are permanent," Acevedo said. "If he pardons them, they're pardoned."