How many January 6 defendants pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding and what sentences did they receive?
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Executive summary
Official tallies in reporting and government updates show that well over a hundred January 6 defendants either pleaded guilty to or were convicted of the statute commonly charged as “obstruction of an official proceeding,” but sources differ on the exact count and the dataset is fluid; sentences for that charge range from months in prison plus supervised release to multi‑year terms in custody depending on facts and enhancements [1] [2] [3]. Reporting and Justice Department summaries provide illustrative examples rather than a single definitive list, and subsequent developments—including litigation over the charge and presidential pardons—have altered some outcomes and complicate any fixed total [4] [5] [6].
1. How many defendants pleaded guilty to obstruction of an official proceeding — the best available count
Contemporary compilations and news summaries indicate “over 150” defendants had either been convicted of or pleaded guilty to the federal obstruction charge by the time courts were considering challenges to the statute, and Justice Department tracking showed hundreds more charged with that offense overall, with periodic DOJ status reports documenting “more than 310,” “more than 332,” and later “more than 355” defendants charged with corruptly obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding as the prosecutions progressed [1] [2] [7] [8] [3]. These figures establish that the number who pled guilty specifically to the obstruction count was substantial (well into the triple digits) but differ among sources and reporting dates, so a single precise, up‑to‑the‑moment total is not available in the supplied materials [2] [3].
2. What sentences did those who pleaded guilty receive — range and patterns
Sentences imposed on defendants who admitted guilt to obstruction of an official proceeding varied widely: some nonviolent defendants received custodial sentences measured in months plus supervised release, while others received multi‑year terms when courts found aggravating conduct or applied sentencing enhancements; examples in the reporting include completed eight‑month terms (followed by supervised release), a 21‑month prison term, and four‑year sentences handed to some high‑profile defendants who pled or were convicted on obstruction counts [4] [9] [10]. The statutory maximum for a single count of obstruction carries up to 20 years in prison and substantial fines, but actual sentences reflect offense specifics, criminal history and sentencing guidelines rather than the maximum alone [11].
3. Why precise aggregation is difficult — timing, charges, and evolving law
Multiple factors make a single authoritative total elusive in the provided reporting: datasets update at different intervals, government reports distinguish between “charged” and “convicted/pleaded guilty” counts, many plea deals bundle multiple counts or specify which charge a defendant admits, and a Supreme Court review and subsequent litigation have produced retroactive legal questions that prompted the DOJ to defend the validity of numerous existing plea deals [2] [4]. Furthermore, the January 2025 presidential pardons and commutations issued for many defendants add a layer of post‑sentencing change that affects whether sentences were ultimately served or remain on record as imposed [5] [6].
4. Notable representative cases that illustrate the spectrum of punishment
Several named examples in reporting clarify the range: two defendants who pleaded guilty in October 2022 completed eight‑month prison terms and are serving supervised release terms now; a defendant sentenced in 2023 received 21 months in custody after a conviction tied to obstruction counts; and some Proud Boys‑linked defendants who either pleaded or were convicted faced four‑year prison sentences tied to obstruction or related counts—showing how leadership role, coordination, and violence influenced longer custodial terms [4] [9] [10].
5. Political and legal developments that affected outcomes
The Justice Department publicly urged courts to uphold plea agreements after the Supreme Court took up narrow questions about the obstruction statute, arguing that “guilty” pleas should stand even if the legal definition of obstruction shifted; that position mattered because hundreds of cases hinged on whether convictions or pleas under that statute remained valid [4]. Separately, the 2025 presidential pardons and commutations acknowledged in White House communications and documented proclamations changed the practical landscape for many defendants by shortening or erasing sentences, complicating raw counts of people who “received” and then ultimately “served” particular punishments [5] [6].
6. Bottom line
Based on contemporaneous DOJ tallies and journalism, the number of people who pleaded guilty to or were convicted of obstructing an official proceeding is firmly in the triple digits—commonly reported as “over 150” for convictions/pleas to that specific charge at one reporting point, with several hundred more charged—and sentences for that charge have ranged from months in prison and supervised release up to multi‑year terms depending on aggravating factors; a single up‑to‑date exact total or consolidated sentencing table is not present in the supplied sources, and later pardons and legal rulings have altered some outcomes [1] [2] [7] [3] [4] [5].