'Psychos': Outrage grows as pardoned J6 rioter says he'd do it again

Ryan Nichols Sr., a man who was convicted for his actions during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol and later pardoned by President Donald Trump, posted on the social platform X Sunday expressing no regret for his involvement.

“And I’d do it again given the same situation,” Nichols wrote.

“They attacked Americans and killed innocent protestors. We should have drug MF’s through the streets.”

Nichols, a former Marine from Texas, was sentenced in 2023 after pleading guilty to felony obstruction of an official proceeding and assaulting law enforcement with chemical spray.

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He was seen on video using pepper spray on officers and encouraging others to push forward during the riot.

Prosecutors cited his own words from a video recorded later, in which he said, “Ryan Nichols stands for violence.”

In January, Trump issued pardons to hundreds of people charged or convicted in connection with the Capitol riot. Nichols was among them.

The decision was widely criticized by legal experts and former officials, who said it could undermine public trust in the rule of law.

After his release, Nichols briefly launched a campaign for Congress in East Texas, pointing to his pardon and describing himself as a political prisoner. He withdrew from the race days later without providing a clear reason.

Meanwhile, his recent statement on X has renewed concerns that some individuals pardoned for their roles in the Capitol attack continue to justify political violence.

New York Times reporter Talmon Smith reacted to his post and wrote: “Jan 6 attacker that trump pardoned on this sunday morning: ‘I’d do it again given the same situation....We should have drug MF’s through the streets.’

What are we doing here[?]”

Writer Matt Herdman said: “To be clear: Trump pardoned people like Ryan Nichols so that he can do a second J6 if necessary in 2029
It’s about telling his shock troops that he’ll make sure they face no punishment for another coup attempt.”

Hugo Lowell, a White House correspondent for the Guardian, wrote: “Jan. 6 rioter pardoned by Trump says he would storm Congress again and that they should’ve dragged police officers through the streets. Trump really pardoned some psychos.”