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Jesse James Rumson

January 6 defendant

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Jesse James Rumson is a Citrus County, Florida man who grew up in Lecanto, ran for county commission, and now serves as a committeeman for his Republican precinct. He got a nickname from the national press. He also got a ballot fight, a federal trial, and a presidential pardon. All three are in the record. THE CIVIC RECORD FACT: Jesse James Rumson filed to run for the Citrus County Commission in 2024 against a Republican incumbent. FACT: His candidacy was thrown out during qualifying week because he failed to check a box on a campaign finance form. Elections officials removed his name from the ballot. FACT: He sued. He appealed. He took the fight to the Florida Supreme Court seeking to be restored to the ballot. FACT: He later became committeeman of his Republican precinct. Read that again. A man was knocked off a county ballot over an unchecked box, and he went to the state supreme court about it rather than shrug. Then he went back to work for his precinct anyway. THE FEDERAL CASE FACT: Rumson was arrested February 27, 2023, on a complaint filed February 24, 2023. He entered the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, wearing a panda costume head. He has said his protest was about China trade practices. FACT: In May 2024, a federal judge convicted him at a bench trial on counts including resisting and assaulting officers. FACT: He was awaiting sentencing when President Trump granted clemency on January 20, 2025. He served no jail time on this case. THEIR ACCOUNT: Rumson said the President signed the order and the White House posted it. CASE RECORD Name: Jesse James Rumson, Lecanto, Citrus County, Florida Case: 1:23-cr-70 Court: U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Complaint February 24, 2023. Arrested February 27, 2023. Convicted at bench trial May 2024. Clemency January 20, 2025. This profile is unclaimed. If this is you, or your family, claiming it is free, forever.