Donald Trump's administration once again sparked controversy after confirming that the Department of Justice (DOJ) removed from its website dozens of communications related to those accused of the assault on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, a decision that critics consider part of an attempt to rewrite the official narrative of one of the most tense episodes in recent American politics.

The Associated Press reported that journalists detected that documents about charges, convictions and sentences had disappeared from the official website of the Department of Justice.

Hours later, the agency later confirmed the elimination and defended the measure by ensuring that the content corresponded to “partisan propaganda” promoted during Joe Biden's administration.

DOJ defends deletion of files

Through its official rapid response account on

“We will do everything in our power to repair the damage caused to those who were persecuted for political purposes,” the agency said.

Among the deleted records were communications related to members of extremist groups such as the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, whose leaders faced historic convictions for seditious conspiracy stemming from the attack on the Capitol.

The decision comes months after Trump, upon his return to the White House in January 2025, granted pardons, commutations or promises to dismiss charges to more than 1,500 people linked to the riots.

Political tension grows over compensation

The controversy escalated even further this week after the Department of Justice announced a $1.776 million fund aimed at compensating Trump allies who claim to have been unfairly investigated.

Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche did not publicly rule out that some convicted of violence during the assault on the Capitol could request compensation, a situation that generated rejection both among Democrats and within the Republican Party itself.

Politico reported that various analysts consider that the DOJ's recent decisions are part of a political strategy to publicly redefine what happened on January 6, when hundreds of Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol trying to stop Biden's electoral certification.

The issue continues to provoke deep divisions in Washington, especially as Trump seeks to once again consolidate political and narrative control over one of the most sensitive chapters of his presidential legacy.