Record at a Glance
- Category
- Jan 6th
- Age in NPR record
- 50
- Location
- Kaysville, Utah
- Charges
- Entering and Remaining in a Restricted Building; Disorderly and Disruptive Conduct in a Restricted Building; Violent Entry and Disorderly Conduct in a Capitol Building; Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building
- Case status
- Pleaded guilty; Dismissed in part or full; Sentenced
- Presidential action
- Pardon
Case Summary
The day after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, a friend of Michael Lee Hardin's told the FBI that Hardin was inside the Capitol building during the riot and that he had sent text messages that day, including “We stormed the Capitol, I am in here now!" “I know you don’t like Trump, but He is the rightful President!" and “We will return until we win!” Another tipster, photographs and Google location records obtained by law enforcement also allegedly place Hardin inside the Capitol during the riot. Hardin is a former Salt Lake City police officer. He retired in December 2017, the department said.
Case History
Hardin pleaded Guilty to one charge: Parading, Demonstrating, or Picketing in a Capitol Building. The other charges are dismissed. Sentenced 4/11/2022 to 18 months of Probation; 30 days location monitoring; $10 Special Assessment; Restitution of $500; 60 hours community service. Hardin 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.