VB man arrested after Jan. 6 riot assumes he received pardon
Jan 22, 2025
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) — As promised, President Donald Trump, on day one of his second term in office, pardoned some 1,500 people charged in the deadly attack on the nation's capitol on Jan. 6 2021.
Jake Hiles, a Virginia Beach man who was arrested on misdemeanor charges, told 10 On Your Side he would like to see something in writing, but he assumes his name is on the pardon list.
Trump's executive order issuing the pardons mentions 14 names, but states that he grants "a full, complete and unconditional pardon to all other individuals convicted of offenses related to events that occurred at or near the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021."
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Hiles, a charter fishing boat captain, captured on video what he said is proof some police officers contributed to the deadly chaos.
"I have several videos from Jan. 6 — I have over an hour of video that I shot on Jan. 6," he said. "It shows all sorts of things. I have videos that show Capitol Police inciting inciting riots by shooting. They were walking through the crowds with a super soaker-style water gun that was full of bear spray.
"I have [on video] a man who who had been sprayed by a Capitol Police officer," he said. "I'm standing right beside him and he walks up to the Capitol Police officer and says, 'Hey, why did you spray me with with pepper spray?' The guy ... said he was a Vietnam veteran and he's never done anything but serves the country."
Twice before, Hiles shared his story with 10 On Your Side, but for the first time, he's sharing his video. In an interview outside his Virginia Beach home, Hiles said he withheld the video after an interview with a special agent that, at times, was tense. His attorney believes that interview with the special agent was recorded.
"It was what I was told in August of 2021," Hiles said. "And in a Zoom meeting with Brandon Merriman, who is the special agent in charge of Jan. 6, and he's the guy you saw do the interview about 60 Minutes about Jan. 6. And in a Zoom meeting with Brandon Merriman in August of 2021, he told me that if I go to the media and start talking about Jan. 6, if my videos find the media or the Internet, that I would, quote, 'spend the rest of my life in prison.' I asked for what [and] he said. 'I'll find something.'"
10 On Your Side reached out to the national press office for the FBI. A spokesperson wrote:
"There have not been any FBI agents who have participated in interviews on 60 Minutes about Jan. 6. We don't have any further comment."
Hiles pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building in a case that he says cost him six figures.
Democratic Sen. Mark Warner said the pardons could cost the nation the rule of law.
"Some of these rioters attacked policemen and now they are getting a full commutation," Warner said. "I don't know what this says about the rule of law."