On Jan. 20, Larry Giberson ’23 was pardoned for his participation in the Jan. 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol, along with roughly 1,500 other rioters in a bulk executive action by President Donald Trump. The executive order grants a “complete and unconditional pardon” to all but 14 rioters, who received commutations.
“I’m really grateful to President Trump for his clemency,” Giberson said in an interview with The Daily Princetonian. “I was a stupid kid. A year of Princeton barely under my belt and just starting to get ideas. Ideas are so dangerous at that age before you really learn how to use them properly.”
Giberson was initially charged in March 2023 with six violations of the U.S. Code for his participation in a “heave-ho pushing effort” in an attempt to enter the Capitol through the Lower West Terrace “tunnel” entrance. During that attempt, one Capitol police officer was dragged into the crowd and attacked with pepper spray and weapons. Giberson was seen in a video recording of the incident, chanting “drag them out,” according to an FBI statement of facts.
Giberson initially pleaded not guilty and underwent trial, during which he graduated from Princeton with an A.B. degree in Politics and certificates in both French and Values and Public Life. At the time, the University faced criticism for their decision to award his degree.
The University did not respond to a request to comment on Giberson’s pardon.
In November 2023, Giberson pled guilty to one count of civil disorder in a plea agreement negotiated with the Office of the U.S. Attorney, with the remaining charges being waived at his sentencing hearing. He was sentenced to two months in prison, six months of home detention, and $2,000 in fines.
At his sentencing, Giberson invoked Princeton’s informal motto in an address to the court. “As someone in the service of the nation, and in the service of humanity, I am sorry,” he said.
After his sentencing, he was released pending designation to a carceral facility. His incarceration did not begin until March 2024 at FCI Danbury, a low-security prison in Connecticut. He served his two month sentence there and was released into house arrest in May. After six months of house arrest, he was fully released in November 2024, one year after his initial sentencing.
Giberson’s conviction will remain on his criminal record. However, Trump’s pardon removes civil disabilities imposed on him, as well as a restoration of his right to bear arms, increased ability for international travel, and ability to serve on a jury.
“I am probably the only person in this country who is happy and looking forward to serving on a jury,” Giberson said.
The sweeping pardon issued by Trump grants clemency to individuals convicted of offenses ”related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol.”
“I was expecting some kind of day one presidential action, but I wasn’t sure of the extent of it,” Giberson told the ‘Prince.’ “Now that we’ve gotten this very large blanket pardon, I’m not quite sure what to think about it. I’m not entirely sure if it’s totally justified.”
Despite his apprehensions, Giberson was ultimately supportive of the pardon and the function he believes it serves.
“I think the pardon is as much a grant of clemency to the individual person who receives it as it is maybe a message to the nation to forgive and to let go of past grievances, to heal and to unify, and to take a step forward together,” Giberson said.
Giberson isn’t yet certain of his long term plans. He’s taking time to travel, including a trip to Asia later this year. He’s become a certified sommelier. As he put it, he’s “just kind of going with the wind right now.” But wherever he ends up, he’s leaving Jan. 6, 2021 behind.
“I think there’s a very, very large chunk [of us] that are happy to be able to put the shame behind us and move on. I certainly am,” he said.
Vitus Larrieu is a senior News writer for the ‘Prince.’
Please send any corrections to corrections[at]dailyprincetonian.com.
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