Shantelle Holeton, a victim of Peter Schwartz— a Jan. 6 defendant who received a pardon after being convicted of violent crimes—expresses deep concerns for her safety following his release. Schwartz, who was sentenced to over 14 years for assaulting police officers during the Capitol riot, has a history of domestic violence, with Holeton alleging that he threatened her life in the past, which led to his prosecution in 2019.
Despite concerns raised by critics about the implications of mass pardons issued by former President Trump, Schwartz, along with others, is now free without any monitoring or restrictions. Schwartz’s previous violent behavior and extensive criminal record amplify Holeton’s worries that he may retaliate against her; she states, “I’m just afraid that I’m going to come home from work one night and he’s going to be right there.” The case raises significant questions about public safety as at least 159 of the pardoned defendants had prior criminal records, including 41 with histories of violence.
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