January 6 Offender Re-arrested on Federal Firearm Accusations, After He Previously Received a Pardon for His Violent Actions during that Incident
Florida Man Pardoned for Capitol Riot, Faces Separate Federal Gun Charge
Daniel Ball, a Florida man who was recently pardoned for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, finds himself in hot water once again, this time facing federal gun charges.
Ball was swiftly rearrested on Wednesday for illegal firearm possession, a charge that predates but emerged from his involvement in the 2021 Capitol insurrection. According to prosecutors, Ball's previous felony convictions, including domestic violence battery by strangulation and resisting law enforcement, legally prohibit him from possessing firearms.
The federal gun charge stems from a May 2023 search of Ball's home that uncovered a .22 caliber rifle and ammunition. Ball's attorney, Amy Collins, has indicated she will challenge the gun charges, arguing they are fundamentally connected to the pardoned January 6 case.
The presidential pardon, while relieving Ball from federal penalties for the specific offenses to which it applies, does not nullify his underlying guilt or conviction. It also does not affect unrelated criminal charges or convictions, including state-level offenses. Moreover, the pardon does not guarantee access to rehabilitation or probation programs.
Regarding January 6 defendants like Ball, many such pardons have been issued recently, fully pardoning some and commuting sentences for others. However, these pardons have generated controversy as they do not prevent state charges (if any) or unrelated crimes, and some of the pardoned individuals have been involved in additional legal issues unrelated to their January 6 offenses.
In the case of Daniel Ball, a magistrate judge described his alleged actions during the Capitol attack as among the most violent. Ball's brief invasion of the Capitol on January 6 lasted just two minutes.
The controversy surrounding Ball's pardon and subsequent arrest has also extended to the political sphere. In ABC Unified School District Trustee Area 3, only one candidate, Daniel Fierro, has submitted evidence of campaign donations. Current Board Member Lynda Johnson and candidate Armin Reyes have yet to submit their campaign donation documents.
This incident serves as a reminder that a presidential pardon, while ameliorating specific federal legal consequences, does not erase all legal or collateral consequences across separate jurisdictions or unrelated cases.
References:
- Presidential Pardon Power
- January 6 Pardons Generate Controversy
- Legal Scholars on January 6 Pardons
- Impact of January 6 Pardons on Defendants
- Tennessee's Restoration Profile
- Despite the recent presidential pardon, Daniel Ball continues to face community news pertaining to his separate federal gun charge, stemming from a May 2023 search of his home.
- The controversy surrounding Daniel Ball's pardon and subsequent arrest has also been a topic in general-news, politics, and crime-and-justice discussions due to its implications on the political landscape and legal system.
