Peter Schwartz, the former Jan. 6 rioter who served the longest prison sentence of any defendant in the Capitol breach cases before being pardoned by President Donald Trump, has been arrested again in Texas. Federal prosecutors allege that Schwartz, 53, committed a felony by possessing firearms while previously convicted of a serious crime, following a chaotic traffic stop on a beach near Corpus Christi where he allegedly drove his truck in circles around a 911 caller’s vehicle and pointed a gun at the witness.
Background
Schwartz, a welder from Kentucky, gained notoriety during the January 2021 Capitol riot for using pepper spray on law enforcement officers. In December 2022, he was convicted on nine of eleven charges, resulting in a 14-year prison term—the most severe sentence handed down in the Jan. 6 cases at that time. However, the legal landscape shifted dramatically in January 2025 when President Trump granted Schwartz a full pardon. By March 2025, a district judge in Washington, D.C., formally dismissed his case, clearing his prior federal record.
Despite the pardon, Schwartz’s legal troubles resurfaced on the evening of July 14, when Corpus Christi Police received a call reporting a "traffic hazard" near Bob Hall Pier. According to a federal criminal complaint filed by an agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), the caller reported that a silver Chevrolet truck with chrome wheels was "doing donuts" around the caller’s vehicle. The complaint states that when the caller approached the truck to confront the driver, the suspect allegedly pulled a gun on them.
The Charges
Authorities allege Schwartz was the driver of the Chevrolet involved in the beachside incident. Later that night, U.S. Park Rangers spotted the vehicle at the Padre Island National Seashore during a "be on the lookout" (BOLO) request. The charging document notes that both Schwartz and his female passenger refused to identify themselves after being detained. Rangers reported a "strong odor of alcohol" on Schwartz’s breath, slurred speech, and an argumentative demeanor, noting that his driver’s license was invalid due to previous DUI refusals.
A search of the vehicle yielded an open container of Miller Lite, a small bag containing suspected cocaine, drug paraphernalia including a mirror with straws, and two loaded pistols. The ATF investigation further linked Schwartz to the crime through social media evidence. Agents found a Facebook profile purportedly belonging to Schwartz featuring photos of him posing with firearms on a beach, including images taken in front of the same pickup truck. One photo showed Schwartz wearing a shirt that read "stay strapped or get clapped." The federal charge stems from possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony, a status that persists for the purposes of this specific federal statute despite the presidential pardon, alongside local charges for driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
Key Takeaways
- Peter Schwartz, 53, was arrested on Sept. 9 in Corpus Christi, Texas, following a July 14 beachside incident.
- Schwartz was pardoned by President Trump in January 2025 after serving time for a 14-year sentence related to the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
- Federal charges include possession of a firearm by a person previously convicted of a felony, based on ATF evidence of loaded pistols found in his truck.
- Local charges include driving with a suspended license, possession of a controlled substance, and unlawful carrying of a weapon.
- U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie Hampton ordered Schwartz detained pending trial on Sept. 15, citing flight risk and lack of stable residence.
What's Next
Schwartz remains in federal custody following a detention hearing on Sept. 15, where U.S. Magistrate Judge Julie Hampton denied bond due to flight risk concerns and his lack of a stable residence. Legal proceedings are expected to move forward in the Southern District of Texas as prosecutors prepare for trial on the federal firearm possession charge. The status of the local charges in Corpus Christi will likely be addressed in state court proceedings, potentially concurrent with or following the resolution of the federal case.