Pardoned Capitol rioter Zachary Alam now faces fresh felony burglary charges just months after receiving President Trump’s clemency for his role in the January 6 events.
Key Takeaways
- Zachary Alam, 33, was arrested on May 9 in Virginia for allegedly breaking into a home, less than four months after being pardoned for his Capitol riot involvement.
- Alam had been serving an eight-year sentence for his actions during the January 6 events, which included smashing door panels and windows near where Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot.
- His criminal history includes previous arrests for burglary, grand larceny, assault, disorderly conduct, and vandalism.
- Alam had requested “a full pardon with all benefits and compensation” rather than a “second-class pardon” from President Trump.
- His preliminary hearing for the new burglary case is scheduled for late June in Henrico County court.
Another Legal Trouble for Pardoned January 6 Participant
Zachary Jordan Alam, a 33-year-old from Centreville, Virginia, has been charged with felony burglary after allegedly breaking into a home in Henrico County on May 9. According to authorities, Alam gained entry through a back door and took several items before being confronted by individuals in the home. He fled the scene but was apprehended nearby. This arrest comes less than four months after President Trump pardoned Alam for his participation in the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol, where he had been serving part of a 96-month prison sentence with 36 months of supervised release.
Alam’s involvement in the January 6 events was extensive and violent. He attended the ‘Stop the Steal’ rally and subsequently participated in the Capitol breach, helping other rioters scale barriers and entering the building through a broken window. His most notorious actions occurred at the Speaker’s Lobby door, where he used a helmet to smash glass panels moments before Ashli Babbitt was fatally shot while attempting to climb through one of the broken windows. The Trump administration later settled a wrongful-death lawsuit with Babbitt’s family for nearly $5 million.
A History of Criminal Behavior
Court records reveal that Alam has a lengthy criminal record predating his Capitol riot involvement. His past includes arrests for burglary, grand larceny, assault, disorderly conduct, and vandalism across multiple jurisdictions. During his sentencing for the January 6 charges, his defense attorney described him as a troubled loner, while his mother testified about his struggles with rejection, substance abuse, and minor crimes. Despite these characterizations, the judge handed down one of the longest sentences given to January 6 participants.
“Those are not the actions of a patriot. To say otherwise is delusional,” said U.S. District Judge Dabney Friedrich during Alam’s sentencing for the Capitol riot charges.
Alam, a University of Virginia graduate who dropped out of the Alabama College of Osteopathic Medicine, has shown little remorse for his actions. At his sentencing hearing, he told the court that he believed in his heart that he was doing the right thing. Sometimes you have to break the rules to do what’s right. He also requested a pardon, specifying that he wanted a full pardon with all the benefits that come with it, including full compensation and declaring, he will not accept a second-class pardon.
Pattern Among Pardoned Rioters
Alam is not the only pardoned January 6 participant to face new legal troubles. Another pardoned rioter, Andrew Taake, was recently re-arrested on separate charges, highlighting a concerning pattern. Over 1,500 participants in the Capitol events received pardons from President Trump on January 20, 2025. While these pardons cleared their records for actions during the January 6 events, they do not provide immunity for subsequent criminal behavior or unrelated past offenses.
“I will not accept a second-class pardon,” said Zachary Jordan Alam, demonstrating his entitled attitude even when receiving clemency.
Alam has pleaded not guilty to the new burglary charges and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing in late June in Henrico County court. His case raises important questions about rehabilitation and recidivism among those involved in the January 6 events. While President Trump’s pardons have given many participants a second chance, Alam’s case demonstrates that some individuals may struggle to reintegrate into society lawfully, regardless of the clemency they receive for political actions.
