DOJ Removes Jan. 6 Case Releases, Calls Prior Online Records Propaganda
The Justice Department removed dozens of Jan. 6 news releases and detailed defendant case pages from its website the week before May 26, 2026.[1]
The department issued a social-media statement calling the removed materials "partisan propaganda" and saying the purge was part of reversing the "weaponization" of the Justice Department under the Biden administration.[1] NPR confirmed that the previously accessible DOJ pages now return "Page not found" errors after the mass deletion.[1] CBS News reported the Justice Department acknowledged it had scrubbed the releases from its site.[2]
The deleted pages included detailed case files for at least five high-profile Jan. 6 defendants: Daniel Rodriguez, Albuquerque Head, Thomas Webster, Christopher Alberts and Peter Schwartz.[1]
Rodriguez's removed release described his guilty plea for driving an electroshock device into Officer Michael Fanone's neck and noted a sentence of more than 12 years in prison.[1] Head's deleted release described his guilty plea for assaulting police, grabbing Fanone by the neck, pulling him into the mob while shouting "I've got one!", and a sentence of more than seven years.[1]
Webster's removed page detailed his jury conviction for assaulting law enforcement with a metal flagpole, tackling an officer, trying to remove an officer's gas mask, and a 10-year prison sentence.[1] Alberts' release described a jury conviction for assaulting officers with a wooden pallet while carrying a loaded handgun on Capitol grounds and a seven-year sentence, and Schwartz's described convictions for assaulting officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair and a 14-year sentence.[1]
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📌 Key Facts
- NPR’s Tuesday, May 26, 2026 report specifies that the deleted DOJ news releases include detailed case pages for at least five high‑profile Jan. 6 defendants — Daniel Rodriguez, Albuquerque Head, Thomas Webster, Christopher Alberts and Peter Schwartz (NPR’s May 26, 2026 report).
- Daniel Rodriguez’s deleted release described his guilty plea for driving an electroshock device into Officer Michael Fanone’s neck and noted his sentence of more than 12 years in prison (Daniel Rodriguez).
- Albuquerque Head’s deleted release described his guilty plea for assaulting police, grabbing Officer Michael Fanone by the neck, pulling him into the mob while shouting "I’ve got one!", and his sentence of more than seven years in prison (Albuquerque Head).
- Thomas Webster’s deleted release detailed his jury conviction for assaulting law enforcement with a metal flagpole, tackling an officer and trying to remove the officer’s gas mask, and his 10‑year prison sentence (Thomas Webster).
- Christopher Alberts’s deleted release described his jury conviction for assaulting officers with a wooden pallet while carrying a loaded handgun on Capitol grounds and his seven‑year sentence (Christopher Alberts).
- Peter Schwartz’s deleted release described his jury conviction for assaulting officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair at law enforcement, and his 14‑year prison sentence (Peter Schwartz).
- NPR confirms that all of these previously accessible DOJ web pages now return "Page not found" errors following the mass deletion that occurred the week prior to May 26, 2026 (NPR).
- The DOJ issued a public social‑media statement characterizing the removed Jan. 6 materials as "partisan propaganda" and framing the purge as part of reversing the "weaponization" of the Justice Department under the Biden administration (DOJ).
📰 Source Timeline (2)
Follow how coverage of this story developed over time
- NPR’s May 26, 2026 report specifies that the deleted DOJ news releases include detailed case pages for at least five high-profile Jan. 6 defendants convicted of violent assaults on police: Daniel Rodriguez, Albuquerque Head, Thomas Webster, Christopher Alberts and Peter Schwartz.
- Rodriguez’s deleted release had described his guilty plea to driving an electroshock device into Officer Michael Fanone’s neck and his sentence of more than 12 years in prison.
- Head’s deleted release had described his guilty plea for assaulting police, grabbing Fanone by the neck, pulling him into the mob while shouting 'I’ve got one!', and his sentence of more than seven years in prison.
- Webster’s deleted release had detailed his jury conviction for assaulting law enforcement with a metal flagpole, tackling an officer and trying to remove the officer’s gas mask, and his 10‑year prison sentence.
- Alberts’ deleted release had described his jury conviction for assaulting officers with a wooden pallet while carrying a loaded handgun on Capitol grounds and his seven‑year sentence.
- Schwartz’s deleted release had described his jury conviction for assaulting officers with pepper spray and throwing a metal chair at law enforcement, and his 14‑year prison sentence.
- NPR confirms that all of these previously accessible DOJ web pages now return 'Page not found' errors following the mass deletion that occurred the week prior to May 26, 2026.
- The article reiterates DOJ’s public social‑media statement characterizing the removed Jan. 6 materials as 'partisan propaganda' and framing the purge as part of reversing 'weaponization' under the Biden administration.