Jared L. Wise, a former law enforcement officer, member of the Proud Boys, and instigator of violence during the January 6 insurrection. Today, he’s working as an adviser in the Trump administration’s “weaponization working group.” This group investigates various topics, including Trump-related inquiries, prosecutions of January 6 defendants, anti-abortion protests, and allegations of anti-Catholic bias.
This is why the riot on January 6 ignited in 2021. After the 2020 presidential election, vicious supporters of Donald Trump plotted to overturn the election results by force. But perhaps most importantly, body camera footage from the metropolitan police department was able to thoroughly document Wise’s actions that day. Yet it unmistakably captures him directing hatred at the cops. In the video, he stated, “You guys are disgusting. I’m former – I’m former law enforcement. You’re disgusting. You are the Nazi. You are the Gestapo. You can’t see it … Shame on you! Shame on you! Shame on you!”
President Trump awarded clemency to Wise for his role in this attack on democracy. This ruling similarly applied to all those charged and convicted for their participation in the January 6 insurrection. Beyond transportation, this clemency further highlights the polarized perspectives that enshroud everyone connected to the January 6th insurrectionists.
Former acting U.S. attorney for Washington D.C. Edward Martin heads the weaponization working group. He’s brought in Wise to act as an ambassador. Martin has been a driving force in this coalition. He strives to address perceived injustices in the justice system in connection with these political and social movements.
The group’s agenda stretches from a long list of noncontroversial to controversial issues, all having received a great deal of national attention and debate. For the investigators, it’s largely all Trump, all the time. They continue to seek prosecutions stemming from the January 6 insurrection. The Tenth Circuit’s religious animus standard. In addition, the group is looking at issues involving anti-abortion protests and religious bias against Catholics.
Wise’s statements on that fateful day are illustrative of his extremely aggressive posture in an extremely charged political atmosphere. In other recorded remarks, he was heard shouting, “Yeah, fuck them! Yeah, kill ’em! Kill ’em! Kill ’em!” Such statements have fueled debates over accountability, and over the implications of the rhetoric indicating the politicization of protests and the use of police.