Recently, audio recordings of voicemails left by the Justice Department for police officers who testified at the trials of January 6 rioters have surfaced. These notifications were in response to President Donald Trump's decision to grant mass clemency to nearly 1,600 defendants involved in the Capitol siege.
One of the voicemails obtained was for former US Capitol Police Staff Sgt. Aquilino Gonell, who was a victim of multiple assaults during the riot and is known for his criticism of Trump. The voicemail informed him about the release of convicted rioter Federico Klein, a former political appointee at the State Department.
Klein, who actively participated in the mob's activities for almost 90 minutes, including clashing with Gonell and other officers at the Lower West Terrace tunnel, was found guilty of eight felonies at a bench trial. These charges included six counts of assaulting or resisting police. In 2023, Klein was sentenced to nearly six years in prison but was released this week after receiving a pardon from Trump.
It is standard practice for prosecutors to notify trial witnesses and victims who spoke at a defendant's sentencing hearing about the release of the defendants from prison. This notification process aims to keep involved parties informed about the status of the convicted individuals.
