The Department of Justice’s removal of a database detailing criminal charges and convictions related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol from its website appears to be illegal. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington sent a letter to the Archivist of the United States and the Inspector General of the Department of Justice urging them to take action and investigate the likely violation of federal law. 

On January 20, 2025, President Trump pardoned more than 1,500 people charged for crimes related to their conduct in and around the January 6th attack on the Capitol, including many who violently assaulted police officers. Following the pardons, the DOJ removed a database that included information on all related cases prosecuted by the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.

Deleting the database appears to violate 44 U.S.C. § 3106 which requires that agencies notify the archivist upon the removal or deletion of federal records. There is no indication that the DOJ reported the deletion to the National Archives and Records Administration. 

The DOJ’s removal of this database is squarely in line with President Trump’s ongoing efforts to rewrite or erase the insurrection and likely violates federal law. CREW urges NARA and the DOJ IG to investigate and take appropriate action including instructing the agency to issue a report in accordance with federal requirements. 

Read the letter here