Indiana Man Pardoned by Trump Killed in Police Encounter Days After Release

Tue Oct 21 2025 10:00:27 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

Matthew Huttle, a participant in the Capitol riot and pardoned by Trump, fatally shot by police during traffic stop in Indiana.

Matthew Huttle, 42, who was recently pardoned by former President Donald Trump for his role in the January 6 Capitol riot, was shot and killed by police during a traffic stop in Indiana. The incident raises questions about his arrest circumstances and reflects ongoing controversy surrounding pardons granted to January 6 defendants.

An Indiana man who received a pardon from former US President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot was killed by police during a traffic stop just days later. Matthew Huttle, 42, was shot on Sunday after allegedly resisting arrest when officers pulled him over. According to an Indiana State Police (ISP) statement, the situation escalated into an "altercation" with an officer. The specifics regarding the reason for his arrest remain unclear, though police noted that Huttle possessed a firearm during the encounter.

Huttle was among nearly 1,600 individuals who received pardons or commutations from Trump for their participation in the Capitol riot, where Trump supporters breached the Capitol building on January 6, 2021. Following the incident, Huttle had been sentenced to six months in prison as part of a plea deal, and he had been released from custody in July 2024.

After the shooting, the officer involved has been placed on paid administrative leave, with Jasper County Sheriff Patrick Williamson calling for a transparent investigation by the Indiana State Police. Huttle's uncle, also involved in the riot, expressed no regrets regarding their actions, stating, "I'm not ashamed of being there. It was our duty as patriots."

This incident is not isolated; another participant in the riot, Daniel Bell from Florida, was re-arrested on federal gun charges shortly after receiving a pardon. Both Huttle and Bell were part of a larger group of January 6 defendants who had their charges dismissed by Trump on his first day back in the White House. While some, including members of the far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, received pardons, Trump's decision has faced criticism from figures like Senator Lindsey Graham. The South Carolina Republican called it a "mistake" to pardon individuals who violently attacked police officers during the Capitol riot.

This situation underscores ongoing tensions and controversy regarding the pardons given to January 6 offenders, fueling further debate about accountability and justice within the political landscape.