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William B. Cotton

Pardoned January 6 defendant

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William B. Cotton is a Rhode Island man out of Hopkinton, near Ashaway in Washington County, and he was 53 years old when the FBI came for him almost two years after January 6, 2021. Here is what the government says he did inside the Capitol. He made a phone call. Then he took photos or video on his phone. [FACT: Boston.com, December 7, 2022, citing court documents] That is the conduct described in the record. A phone call and a camera. William Cotton was arrested December 7, 2022 and released on personal recognizance eight days later. Not detained. Released on his own word. [Source: case record as compiled by American Gulag] He was charged with four counts. On June 27, 2023 he pleaded guilty to exactly one of them: parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. That is a petty offense, the lowest charge in the entire January 6 docket. Chief Judge James E. Boasberg took the plea. Sentencing was set for September 29, 2023. [Source: case record as compiled by American Gulag. NEEDS AUTHENTICATION against the docket.] He was never charged with assaulting an officer. He was never charged with a weapon. He was never charged with destroying anything. [FACT: charging counts as reported by Boston.com] On January 20, 2025, President Trump granted clemency covering the January 6 prosecutions. THE RECORD Case 1:22-mj-265, U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. Complaint December 6, 2022. Arrested December 7, 2022. Released on personal recognizance December 15, 2022. Pleaded guilty June 27, 2023. Compiled records also list a later case number of 1:23-cr-2 for this matter. NEEDS AUTHENTICATION. This profile is unclaimed. If this is you, or your family, claiming it is free, forever.