Life After a Pardon: A Shocking End to a Capitol Riot Story

I was shocked when I read the news—a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter was shot by police just days after receiving clemency from Donald Trump. Imagine getting a second chance, only for things to go wrong so quickly. That’s exactly what happened to 42-year-old Matthew Huttle, who was pulled over in Indiana and didn’t make it out alive.

Huttle had served time for a misdemeanor charge related to the 2021 Capitol riot. He was released in July 2024 after spending six months in jail. Then, just last week, Trump pardoned over 1,500 people tied to January 6—and Huttle was one of them. But on Sunday afternoon, a traffic stop took a deadly turn.

The incident happened on Indiana State Road 14. Police say a county deputy was talking to Huttle when an altercation broke out. According to state police, Huttle was armed, but they haven’t shared what exactly happened. The deputy fired, and Huttle died at the scene.

Why did things go wrong so fast? That’s the big question with no clear answer. The Jasper County Sheriff placed the deputy on paid leave, which is standard in these cases. Indiana State Police are now handling the investigation but haven’t shared much information. Huttle’s friends—who thought he was starting fresh—are struggling to understand what happened.

Court records show that Huttle was an active participant in January 6. Prosecutors once claimed he “led the way” as rioters overran officers at the Capitol’s West Front. At the same time, they noted that Huttle believed the FBI staged the riot. A complicated past—followed by an even more tragic ending.

It’s unsettling that a pardoned Jan. 6 rioter was shot so soon after his release. No one is above the law, but it’s fair to ask if Huttle’s history influenced the officer’s reaction. Did the deputy recognize him? Were there outstanding warrants? Police haven’t answered those questions yet.

This case is a reminder that second chances don’t always lead to a new beginning. Maybe Huttle was trying to move forward. Maybe he thought the past was behind him. Now, we’ll never know.

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