William Alexander Pope, an accused participant in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, has been granted permission by a federal judge to travel to Washington, D.C., to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration from January 19 to 21, 2025. Despite opposition from prosecutors, who argue that Pope is a “danger to the D.C. community,” U.S. District Court Judge Rudolph Contreras ruled in favor of Pope’s request.
Pope, who has faced legal consequences for his involvement in the Capitol riot, responded to the opposition by asserting that he was peaceful on January 6 and did not engage in violent behavior. He emphasized that he was not charged with assault and pointed to his positive interactions with law enforcement since the incident. He noted that, in May 2023, a former Capitol Police lieutenant had even bought him coffee when he visited the Congressional office building to review CCTV footage of the riot. Pope also recalled an incident in October 2023 when he toured the Capitol and had a friendly exchange with a Capitol Police officer.
In his defense, Pope criticized the prosecution, claiming that the only individuals who might “freak out” if he attended the inauguration were the prosecution team and FBI agents. He suggested that his travel could serve as a lesson in emotional resilience and critical thinking for these officials. Additionally, Pope pointed out that U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves, whose office was handling his case, had announced his resignation on January 16, 2025, implying that Graves did not believe in the prosecution of cases like his.
Pope’s request for travel was also bolstered by his reference to a similar case in which U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan allowed another defendant, Eric Lee Peterson, to attend the inauguration. Pope expressed confidence that Judge Chutkan, who he claimed had a more emotionally stable demeanor than some government attorneys, would understand his peaceful intentions.
Pope’s involvement in the Capitol riot dates back to January 6, 2021, when he and his brother traveled to Washington, D.C., to attend Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally and protest the certification of the Electoral College vote count. Prosecutors allege that Pope entered the Capitol building at 2:18 p.m. and participated in a scuffle with police. Pope is accused of wedging a flagpole into a door jamb, preventing officers from closing the door, before continuing to walk further into the Capitol with other rioters. He and his brother allegedly toured various parts of the building, including the offices of then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, the Crypt, and Statuary Hall, before exiting the Capitol at 2:37 p.m.
Following his arrest in February 2021, Pope was released pending trial with conditions that prohibited him from traveling to Washington, D.C., except for court proceedings. However, his recent request to attend the inauguration was granted, despite objections from prosecutors. Pope’s legal team argued that the decision to allow his travel was justified, noting that it was consistent with the precedent set in other cases.
