Explained: Judge criticizes the Justice Department as he dismisses Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy case

A federal judge dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against members of the Oath Keepers at the Trump administration's request

seditious conspiracy

A crime involving conspiring to overthrow or oppose by force the authority of the U.S. government

Oath Keepers

A far-right extremist group whose members were convicted in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol attack

Proud Boys

Another group whose leaders were convicted of orchestrating violent plots on Jan. 6

commutation

A reduction of a prison sentence without erasing the underlying conviction, unlike a pardon

pardon

An official act that forgives a crime and its punishment, described in the article as 'full, complete and unconditional'