One of President Trump’s first moves in his new term, was to issue sweeping pardons for individuals charged in relation to the January 6th Riots. Overall, roughly 1,500 people received pardons, and 16 had sentences commuted. Of those 1,500 pardoned. 22 were from the state of Alabama, including local Hokes Bluff resident Russell Dean Alford.

Alford had spent a year in federal custody in Yazoo City, Mississippi following his 2022 conviction for entering and remaining in a restricted building, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building, all misdemeanor convictions.

Alford stated in an AL.com article that he had traveled to DC to because he was tired of listening to the national news media and wanted to see the truth for himself. “That whole thing was a Broadway play,’’ Alford said of the Jan. 6 events. “They created the whole thing, and I told the FBI that in my statement. It was all scripted.”

“I was there to officially observe,’’ Alford said. “I basically did a year in prison for nothing.”

The move by President Trump has generated both praise, and controversy by issuing the pardons.