Man Who Stomped on Officers' Heads Among Jan. 6 Prisoners Pardoned by Trump
David Dempsey, a man convicted of stomping on police officers' heads during the January 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol building, was among those pardoned by President Donald Trump on Monday. Department of Justice photo.
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S E E D E D C O N T E N T
Trump issued sweeping pardons for those convicted of crimes during the Jan. 6 riot, when a group of his supporters violently protested the 2020 presidential election results. The pardons were among his first official acts upon returning to the White House on Monday and fulfilled a key campaign promise.
But he is facing scrutiny over some of these pardons, particularly pertaining those who have been convicted of violent crimes during the riot, such as Dempsey. Five police officers died in the weeks after the riot. One died of a stroke following injuries sustained at the scene, while four others died by suicide.
Prosectors described Dempsey as "political violence personified," and he was eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the riot.
In an August 2024 sentencing memorandum, prosecutors wrote that he was one of the most violent protesters.
"Unlike other rioters who slowly pushed their way through the crowd towards the Capitol, Dempsey climbed atop his fellow rioters, using them like human scaffolding, thrusting himself to the front," they wrote.
They continued that he "began a prolonged attack, fighting with his hands, feet, flag poles, crutches, pepper spray, broken pieces of furniture, and anything else he could get his hands on, as weapons against the police" and "attacked a fellow rioter who was trying to disarm him."
Dempsey allegedly "unleashed a torrent of pepper spray directly at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detective Phuson Nguyen," burning his lungs, throat, eyes and face, according to court documents.
Prosecutors also wrote that he "struck MPD Sergeant Mastony's head with such ferocity using a metal crutch that it cracked the protective shield of his gas mask, causing Sergeant Mastony to collapse in a daze, his ears ringing."
"Though Dempsey has pled guilty only for his assaults on Detective Nguyen and Sergeant Mastony, his violent assault on other officers defending the Capitol was relentless: swinging polelike weapons more than 20 times, spraying chemical agents at least three times, hurling objects at officers at least ten times, stomping on the heads of police officers as he perched above them five times, attempting to steal a riot shield and baton, and incessantly hurling threats and insults at police while rallying other rioters to join his onslaught," the document reads.
Representative Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat who outlined some of the violent offenders pardoned by Trump, including Dempsey, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "These are some of the violent criminals and felons who assaulted police officers and attacked our democracy on January 6th. President Trump claims to be a president of law and order, but then lets cop beaters and killers walk free. It's disgusting and wrong."
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Trump issued sweeping pardons for those convicted of crimes during the Jan. 6 riot, when a group of his supporters violently protested the 2020 presidential election results. The pardons were among his first official acts upon returning to the White House on Monday and fulfilled a key campaign promise.
But he is facing scrutiny over some of these pardons, particularly pertaining those who have been convicted of violent crimes during the riot, such as Dempsey. Five police officers died in the weeks after the riot. One died of a stroke following injuries sustained at the scene, while four others died by suicide.
Prosectors described Dempsey as "political violence personified," and he was eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the riot.
Prosectors described Dempsey as "political violence personified," and he was eventually sentenced to 20 years in prison for his role in the riot.
Unlike other rioters who slowly pushed their way through the crowd towards the Capitol, Dempsey climbed atop his fellow rioters, using them like human scaffolding, thrusting himself to the front," they wrote.
They continued that he "began a prolonged attack, fighting with his hands, feet, flag poles, crutches, pepper spray, broken pieces of furniture, and anything else he could get his hands on, as weapons against the police" and "attacked a fellow rioter who was trying to disarm him."
Dempsey allegedly "unleashed a torrent of pepper spray directly at Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) Detective Phuson Nguyen," burning his lungs, throat, eyes and face, according to court documents.
Prosecutors also wrote that he "struck MPD Sergeant Mastony's head with such ferocity using a metal crutch that it cracked the protective shield of his gas mask, causing Sergeant Mastony to collapse in a daze, his ears ringing."
Those vicious rioters, cop-killers, insurrectionists, are part of Emperor Trump's army. They're "very fine people."
Prosecutors also wrote that he "struck MPD Sergeant Mastony's head with such ferocity using a metal crutch that it cracked the protective shield of his gas mask, causing Sergeant Mastony to collapse in a daze, his ears ringing."
"Though Dempsey has pled guilty only for his assaults on Detective Nguyen and Sergeant Mastony, his violent assault on other officers defending the Capitol was relentless: swinging polelike weapons more than 20 times, spraying chemical agents at least three times, hurling objects at officers at least ten times, stomping on the heads of police officers as he perched above them five times, attempting to steal a riot shield and baton, and incessantly hurling threats and insults at police while rallying other rioters to join his onslaught," the document reads.
Representative Jason Crow, a Colorado Democrat who outlined some of the violent offenders pardoned by Trump, including Dempsey, wrote on X (formerly Twitter): "These are some of the violent criminals and felons who assaulted police officers and attacked our democracy on January 6th.
President Trump claims to be a president of law and order, but then lets cop beaters and killers walk free. It's disgusting and wrong."
America. God help you.