John Pierce has taken on so many cases involving those accused of participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack that he has lost count himself. He has represented Proud Boys and Oath Keepers members while raising funds for one father-and-son duo’s legal representation.
Prosecutors were alarmed to hear of his recent failure to appear for court hearings, prompting them to send letters in 17 Capitol riot cases notifying judges that their clients are at risk without him.
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John Pierce represents clients in complex international arbitrations and litigation matters that involve numerous substantive and procedural law issues. He serves as lead counsel and arbitrator in institutional as well as ad hoc arbitrations held across numerous jurisdictions worldwide.
Pierce represented numerous defendants accused of involvement in the Capitol Riot, including those alleged to have collaborated with Oath Keepers and Proud Boys extremist groups. These cases involved allegations of trespassing, assault and other offenses related to protests held on January 6.
Pierce allegedly missed hearings for those accused of rioting, sending instead a young associate who later informed the court of Pierce’s absence due to a conflict.
Pierce not only defends Capitol riot defendants, but he has an expansive private practice specializing in criminal and civil litigation matters related to the United States government, federal courts and state governments. Among his clients have been several individuals accused of investment fraud as well as foreign financial experts investigating Iran-American investments.
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Pierce, who self-identifies as a pro-Trump populist, has taken on so many cases arising from the January 6 Capitol Riot that federal prosecutors estimate there may be 18 altogether; though that figure fluctuates. It’s an enormous workload for any lawyer to manage; experts caution this could present serious ethical challenges and potential conflicts of interests.
Pierce has declined to discuss the specifics of his defense strategy during interviews, but has pledged to challenge government allegations that his clients and he were engaging in illegal trespass and conspiracy activities, arguing they were acting within official U.S. policy. If necessary, he intends to subpoena hostile witnesses like Nancy Pelosi as part of their strategy for defense.
Pierce has represented several high-profile clients, such as former Trump adviser George Papadopoulos and Kyle Rittenhouse (charged with murder after arrest at 2020 Kenosha demonstration), both who are being represented by him and raising funds through groups founded and promoted by Pierce for their legal defenses.
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John Pierce is an award-winning jury trial lawyer and co-founder of one of the world’s premier business litigation law firms, the John Pierce Group. A former M1A1 Abrams tank platoon leader, John attended Harvard Law School where he served as editor for their Law Review publication.
As a self-described “pro-Trump populist,” he has taken on over 20 cases related to the Jan. 6 Capitol Riot, representing them both legally and social media-based right wing media outlets. He claims the FBI investigation against his clients constitutes political persecution while raising what’s called public authority defense as his legal strategy of defense.
But two weeks ago, Pierce stopped speaking to federal prosecutors in the Capitol riot cases and failed to show up for scheduled hearings, instead sending his unlicensed associate instead. That individual told the judge they believed Pierce was suffering from COVID-19 and on ventilator; thus prompting further consideration on their part by the court regarding their appropriate steps moving forward.
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Pierce has represented over 20 defendants accused of participating in the Capitol riots of January 6, including members of Oath Keepers and Proud Boys militia groups, along with one charged with breaking windows, assaulting police, and carrying a tomahawk. Since he hasn’t shown up to court recently however, federal prosecutors have expressed concerns that his caseload will continue unattended without him as representation.
He has been missing for 12 days and has not returned to court. According to court filings, he filed a letter to judges explaining he is currently staying in a Los Angeles-area hospital at his doctor’s recommendation and does not plan on returning until late September. According to The Daily Beast he plans on staying there.
Ryan Marshall, his associate, has been appearing as his stand-in at hearings on some of the cases he missed, according to federal pleadings. Marshall is a recent law school graduate without criminal experience who has provided conflicting explanations for his absences from hearings.
