Donald Trump already saved John Banuelos once. This time, he can’t.
Banuelos was facing some of the most serious charges brought against a Jan. 6 defendant, accused of carrying a gun to the Capitol and firing it into the air during the riot, when he appeared by video before U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan in 2024.
According to veteran DC reporter Scott MacFarlane, who was sitting in the courtroom, Banuelos chuckled and looked straight into the camera as he made an astonishing prediction.
“Trump is going to be in office in six months, so I have nothing to worry about.”
He was right. Trump returned to office and issued his sweeping Jan. 6 pardons before Banuelos ever went to trial. Banuelos walked free.
Fast forward to now. He is sitting in a Utah jail awaiting a trial on nine first-degree felony charges stemming from the alleged kidnapping and brutal assault of a woman. If convicted, he could face life in prison.
And this time Trump’s pardon power is useless, because the case is being prosecuted by the state of Utah, not the federal government.
Prosecutors allege that Banuelos hit the woman in the face, threatened to kill her and threw her to the floor hard enough that she struck her head. She also accused him of sexually assaulting her and repeatedly punching her in the head.
The alleged attack occurred way back in 2018, but investigators didn’t have the evidence until a DNA match in August 2025 linked Banuelos to the case. He was arrested near Chicago three months later and is now being held without bail. Banuelos has pleaded not guilty.
Banuelos had laughed in court because he was certain Donald Trump would return to power and make his legal troubles disappear.
For a while, he was right. Trump returned, pardoned him and wiped away the federal case before he ever stood trial.
Turns out, Banuelos had plenty to worry about. And he was a fool to think Donald Trump’s magic could make it all go away.
He doesn’t have any more.
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