More than five years have passed since January 6, 2021, a date forever linked with one of the most divisive moments in modern American history.
by Don Ritter (The Saratogian)
While the nation’s attention focused on the attack on the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C., another violent confrontation unfolded hundreds of miles away outside the New York State Capitol in Albany during a “Stop the Steal” rally. It was there that Albany resident Alex Contompasis became involved in a violent altercation that ultimately resulted in his conviction and a lengthy prison sentence.
Today, a striking contradiction exists. Nearly all of the individuals convicted of federal crimes arising from the January 6 events at the U.S. Capitol have been released after President Donald Trump issued sweeping pardons and commutations in January 2025. Yet Alex Contompasis remains incarcerated in New York State.
Whether one agrees with his politics is not the issue. The real question is whether justice has been served and whether executive clemency is appropriate. Supporters argue that Contompasis believed he was defending himself and others during a rapidly escalating confrontation involving members of the Proud Boys and counter-protesters. They contend that the circumstances were chaotic, emotions were high, and decisions had to be made in seconds rather than after hours of legal analysis. Advocates have continued to campaign for clemency, arguing that his sentence is disproportionate and that his case raises broader questions about New York’s self-defense laws.
The courts, however, viewed the evidence differently. An Albany County jury convicted Contompasis, and in 2025, the Appellate Division unanimously upheld his conviction, concluding that the evidence supported the verdict and rejecting his self-defense arguments. Still, executive clemency exists precisely because the legal system recognizes that mercy may sometimes be appropriate even after a lawful conviction.One of the strongest arguments for clemency is consistency. The federal government chose to extend extraordinary mercy to those convicted of offenses connected to the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including individuals convicted of assaulting police officers and other serious crimes. Whether one
supported or opposed those pardons, they fundamentally changed the landscape of January 6 justice. Against that backdrop, Contompasis’ continued imprisonment appears, to many observers, increasingly difficult to reconcile. Executive clemency is not a declaration that someone was legally innocent. It is an acknowledgment that mercy, fairness, rehabilitation, or broader public interests justify reducing or ending a sentence. Governors and presidents have exercised this authority throughout American history.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul has granted numerous pardons and commutations during her administration after reviewing evidence of rehabilitation and other equitable considerations. If executive clemency is intended to recognize cases deserving individualized consideration, then supporters argue that
Alex Contompasis deserves that consideration as well.Reasonable people can disagree about what happened outside the State Capitol that day. They can disagree about whether Contompasis acted reasonably, whether he overreacted, or whether the jury reached the correct verdict. Those debates will likely continue for years. But clemency is not about retrying a criminal
case. Instead, it asks whether continued imprisonment still serves the interests of justice.If New York believes in redemption, proportionality, and individualized review, then Contompasis’ petition deserves careful consideration. His supporters argue that enough time has passed, that he no longer presents a danger to society, and that continued incarceration accomplishes little beyond extending punishment.
Others will disagree and believe the seriousness of the assault warrants completion of the sentence.
Ultimately, clemency is an act of executive judgment, not judicial review. It allows elected leaders to balance justice with mercy when extraordinary circumstances warrant. Whether Governor Hochul ultimately agrees is her decision alone. Under New York law, she has constitutional authority to grant pardons and commutations after reviewing the facts of each individual case.As New York continues to reflect on the divisions exposed on January 6, it may also be time to ask whether mercy has been applied consistently. If nearly every federally convicted January 6 defendant has now received clemency or release, supporters argue that Alex Contompasis should at least receive the same careful consideration under New York’s clemency process. I have known Alex since he was a young man, and I have known the family for more than 50 years, a family that has contributed to the arts and business community of Albany. This was not some out-of-state radical who came to Albany to start trouble.
Justice should always be even-handed. Mercy should not depend solely on which government prosecuted the case or on the politics surrounding it. Regardless of one’s view of Alex Contompasis, his application for executive clemency deserves a thorough, fair, and impartial review.
Is this an American Justice System or an American Injustice System?
Sign petition for Alex:
https://www.change.org/p/show-your-support-for-alex-stokes
Write
Alexander Contompasis 22-B-5028
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
354 Hunter Street
Ossining, New York 10562