Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 40
- Location
- Drexel, Missouri
- Charges
- Civil Disorder; Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers (2 counts); Theft of Property Within Special and Maritime Jurisdiction; Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Engaging in Physical Violence in a Restricted Building or Grounds; Act of Physical Violence in the Capitol Grounds or Buildings
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
“Your f***ing president told us to be here. You should be on this side, right here, going with us,” Cale Clayton allegedly shouted at police officers on Jan. 6, 2021, according to an FBI statement of facts. The FBI claims Clayton was filmed by an officer’s bodyworn camera for several minutes that afternoon, calling police “brainwashed” and claiming 84 million “pissed-off” voters backed the rioters. About an hour later, the FBI alleges that Clayton picked up a police baton from the ground and used his hand to strike an officer trying to strip away the baton. He was taken into custody and released without charges that day, according to the FBI statement. When interviewed in March 2021, Clayton told FBI agents he was attempting to return the baton to police and that he “did not riot, engage in violence or commit any acts of vandalism,” according to the FBI statement. He was arrested on March 31, 2022, in Drexel, Mo.
Case History
Clayton pleaded Guilty to two charges: Two counts of Assaulting, Resisting, or Impeding Certain Officers. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced on 7/11/2023 to 30 months incarceration; 24 months of supervised release; special assessment of $200; restitution of $2,000. Clayton received a full pardon on January 20, 2025
Sources
- Primary Documentation
NPR Jan. 6 Defendant DatabaseNPR - Primary Documentation
Underlying court recordCourt record linked by NPR
Case summary, charges, procedural updates and image are drawn from the NPR Jan. 6 archive snapshot dated 2026-09-25 unless otherwise indicated.