Pardoned Jan. 6 defendant arrested and charged with threatening federal judges

Published November 3, 2026 5:33pm ET Updated November 3, 2026 5:33pm ET

A Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot defendant whom President Donald Trump pardoned was arrested this week, allegedly for threatening federal judges in the District of Columbia with execution.

Cleveland Meredith was accused of threatening violence against district public officials across state lines from Georgia. The message, allegedly posted on Facebook on April 23, reads: “ALL J6 Federal JUDGES will be EXECUTED!”