A pardoned rioter and member of the Oath Keepers and Three Percenters, far-right anti-government militias, received a standing ovation and was prayed over at his church's recent Sunday service.
Derek Kinnison of Lake Elsinore, California, was sentenced to 33 months in prison for multiple felony charges after storming the Capitol armed with knives and bear spray on Jan. 6, 2021. He is also one of the thousands of "J6ers" pardoned by Donald Trump last week.
On Sunday, East Bay Times reported Kinnison returned to his non-denominational church, 412 Church Temecula Valley, where he, his wife and teen daughter, who said she was "so proud to be the daughter of a J6er," were met with a standing ovation and cheers.
"The Bible says that we weep with those who weep," Pastor Tim Thompson stated, according to East Bay Times. "Certainly nine months ago when he was going into prison, we all wept with this family as they wept. But today, we rejoice with them as they rejoice."
The church then threw a post-service party to honor Kinnison, but not all of its members were happy about what newspapers have labeled "a hero's welcome" for the felon.
"The fact that a church would celebrate a man who not only helped plan but actually helped in the transport of weapons to the Capitol is a very dangerous precedent to set," Jenn Reeves told East Bay Times. "To me, that is very much against what Christianity truly should be."
© 2025 Latin Times. All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.
