In a recent radio broadcast, Matthew Boyle, Washington Bureau Chief, engaged in a comprehensive dialogue with Olivia and Jonny Pollock, siblings who have become the focal point of a new documentary.
The film delves into their involvement in the Capitol protest on January 6, their subsequent evasion of law enforcement, and their eventual pardons by President Donald Trump upon his return to office.
Half a decade after the events of January 6, 2021, a new independent documentary is illuminating the personal narratives of several individuals embroiled in the most extensive criminal investigation in the history of the U.S. Department of Justice. The Pollock siblings, Jonny and Olivia, who were once fugitives before being apprehended by federal agents, are among the film's most notable subjects. After spending 13 months in prison, they were granted full presidential pardons on January 20, 2025.
As reported by Breitbart, the documentary, crafted by journalist and former foreign correspondent Tracey Eaton, chronicles the Pollock family and their inner circle during a tumultuous period marked by political upheaval, legal peril, and profound personal beliefs. Eaton, who encountered the family while reporting on political rallies in Florida in 2020, is quoted in the film's press release stating that their story is a "powerful human" one, deserving of being told "whether you agree with them or not."
During the radio broadcast, host Matthew Boyle acknowledged Eaton as one of his former journalism professors at Flagler College. Olivia Pollock commended Eaton's approach to the documentary, stating, "He was always respectful, always just so kind to us, as he did follow us the last four years and just told the story how we said it. He didnt put his own spin on it. He didnt try to put his own agenda in it like so many news medias and things do today, he just told the story on the facts and what he saw and what he heard us say and that is so rare these days, and its such a blessing to have him just tell our story.
Jonny Pollock described January 6 as the commencement of a five-year "roller coaster." He expressed pride in being part of such a historic event, recounting how he, his sister Olivia, and others stood outside the Capitol with flags, amidst what he described as a peaceful, patriotic crowd that included elderly women and young people.
According to Pollock, the situation took a sudden turn when law enforcement began using force on the crowd. He recalled the use of pepper spray and batons, stating, All of a sudden, we just start getting attacked out of nowhere. We were like, what in the world just happened? For Pollock, this experience solidified the belief that This was truly a battle of good and evil.
In the aftermath of the protest, both siblings claim they became the focus of federal investigation. Jonny Pollock detailed seeing his image on a wanted list and deciding to evade capture, citing concerns about the justice system's fairness. We knew we werent going to find justice in D.C. Otherwise we would have gone to court, he declared. His evasion involved stringent measures to avoid surveillance. You get rid of anything with media or the internet. It was mostly relying on God protecting us.
Olivia Pollock initially stayed at home, not anticipating the same level of scrutiny. However, in a pre-dawn raid, the FBI arrived with flash bangs and loudspeakers. It was a big show, she commented. They wanted to intimidate anybody who ever thought of standing up for something to not do it. After two years under court supervision and with a trial looming, she removed her ankle monitor and joined her brother and others in hiding.
The siblings lived off the gridJonny for nearly three years and Olivia for 11 monthsutilizing older vehicles, cash, and avoiding all digital traces to evade detection by federal authorities. They were eventually arrested on January 6, 2024, after someone provided the FBI with a map to their location.
While in custody, the two had vastly different experiences. Jonny was eventually placed with other January 6 inmates in a separate unit, while Olivia remained in the general population. Jail was just such an awful place, Jonny remarked, criticizing the state of the prison system and saying it no longer focuses on reform. They just throw you in a box and forget about you.
Both siblings expressed intense relief and renewed hope upon seeing Donald Trump declare victory on election night in 2024. Olivia recalled fellow inmates in her unit running up to her door, banging and shouting, Youre going home. Jonny, watching the moment from a little bathroom size cell, added there was just the biggest relief and smile that you couldnt get rid of because you knew that it was it. We did it, and the Lord came through for us.
Throughout the interview, the Pollocks emphasized that their faith played a central role in their decisions and endurance over the past five years. Olivia described their actions as rooted in a belief that freedom is a gift from God and a responsibility passed down from earlier generations. Its not just our right. Its our duty to stand for those things and to keep those freedoms that we were given, she stated.
Jonny recalled experiencing a deep sense of spiritual peace during his time in hiding, referencing a biblical passage about peace that passes all understanding as he reflected on being alone and pursued. You are set on a cause, when you have a purpose, then you can rest in that, he said.
Both siblings expressed conviction that their faith sustained them through prison, with Olivia adding, God wasnt going to bring us through all this just to leave us to rot in jail. You just had that hope and that feeling in your spirit, like it was going to be okay even if we had to spend a couple years in jail. God was going to give us what we needed.
The documentary, now streaming on Relay, a platform for independent films, has been selected by 21 film festivals globally. It won Best Feature Documentary at the Roma Short Film Festival in Italy; received awards at the Clout International Film Fest in California and the Southeast Asia International Film Festival in Thailand; was nominated at the Directors Cut Film Festival in Budapest, Hungary; and earned honorable mentions at the Folkestone Film Festival in Connecticut, the Awareness Festival in Los Angeles, and the Athens International Monthly Art Film Festival in Greece.
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