Senior House Democrats have launched a formal investigation into whether the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) under Secretary Kristi Noem has hired individuals pardoned for their roles in the January 6 Capitol attack. The probe focuses on recruitment for Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) as the Trump administration embarks on a massive hiring spree.
Raskin Demands Transparency on Recruitment and Pardons
Representative Jamie Raskin, the leading Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, has sent a formal letter to DHS and the Attorney General demanding comprehensive hiring records. He is seeking to determine if any of the roughly 1,600 people charged in connection with the 2021 insurrection are now among the ranks of federal immigration officers.
In his correspondence, Raskin expressed grave concerns about officers whose identities are concealed. "Unique among all law enforcement agencies and all branches of the armed services, ICE agents conceal their identities, wearing masks and removing names from their uniforms," he wrote. He questioned why this practice exists when other police and military personnel work openly.
The congressman alleges the department's recruitment has included appeals that resonate with extremist groups and a "relaxed vetting process." He has requested a full list of any DHS or Justice Department employees who received or requested a presidential pardon related to January 6. Homeland Security Secretary Noem and Attorney General Pam Bondi have been asked to respond by 5 p.m. on 26 January 2026.
Links to Pardoned Rioters Within the Administration
While it remains unclear if pardoned rioters have joined ICE or CBP, the Trump administration has already hired individuals connected to the attack. Jared Wise, who admitted to urging rioters to "kill" law enforcement officers at the Capitol and faced six criminal counts, now works as a senior adviser at the Department of Justice. A spokesperson confirmed Wise is a "valued member" of the team.
Furthermore, the president appointed Ed Martin, a right-wing activist who served on a board providing financial support to January 6 defendants, as a pardon attorney. According to Raskin, Wise and Martin have together led efforts to "fire, demote, and harass" career prosecutors and FBI agents who worked on the Capitol attack cases.
Massive Funding and Recruitment Drive Under Scrutiny
The investigation comes amidst a historic expansion of immigration enforcement resources. Last year, President Trump signed legislation allocating more than $178 billion to immigration enforcement over the next decade, with $30 billion earmarked specifically for ICE recruitment. This funding aims to hire over 10,000 new ICE agents, effectively doubling its size.
To meet these ambitious targets, DHS has advertised "maximum $50,000 signing bonuses," student loan forgiveness, and has relaxed age limits for applicants. Democrats, however, warn that the rush to hire, combined with inadequate vetting, risks embedding individuals with violent backgrounds into a powerful federal force.
Senator Chris Murphy, top Democrat on the Homeland Security appropriations subcommittee, told The Independent: "It's obviously natural that Democrats would want to make sure that any money we spend in DHS is being spent lawfully, and right now that department is full of unlawful activity." Some lawmakers are now considering withholding future funding without strict new limits on the administration's immigration agenda.
The DHS has been requested for comment by The Independent. The outcome of this investigation could significantly impact the political battle over the scope and conduct of the US government's immigration enforcement.
