Former Proud Boys leader Henry ‘Enrique’ Tarrio, who warned of a second US civil war and was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, is among 1,500 January 6 defendants to receive clemency from President Donald Trump.
Tarrio was jailed for 22 years – the longest sentence for any Capitol Riots defendant – for his role in planning the insurrection that sought to stop Joe Biden’s 2020 victory being certified.
President Trump has frequently referred to those jailed over January 6 as “hostages” and on his first day back in the White House, he issued a sweeping clemency order, granting pardons to more than 1,500 defendants.
“No quarter. Raise the black flag,” Tarrio had raged online in November 2020, angry at Mr Biden’s election win. He wanted Mr Trump to remain in office, so he and others hatched a plan, one that culminated in the storming of the Capitol.
Read more: How four Proud Boys secretly planned to overthrow American democracy
Now Tarrio has received a full pardon from President Trump. A lawyer for Tarrio said he expected his client to be released from prison on Monday night.
“This marks a pivotal moment in our client’s life, and it symbolises a turning point for our nation,” Nayib Hassan said in a statement.
“We are optimistic for the future, as we now turn the page on this chapter, embracing new possibilities and opportunities.”
Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean and Dominic Pezzola
Fellow Proud Boys Biggs, Rehl and Nordean were put on trial alongside Tarrio charged with conspiring to oppose the lawful transfer of presidential power by force (seditious conspiracy) and a number of other charges in relation to January 6.
US attorney Jason McCullough said in the days after the 2020 election the defendants had started “calling for action, calling for war, if their favoured candidate was not elected”.
The prosecution revealed what they said was a secret Proud Boys internal plan entitled “1776 Returns”, an incendiary document that laid out plans to take over buildings on January 6.
Proud Boys Joseph Biggs (left) and Ethan Nordean on January 6. Pic: AP
Biggs, Rehl and Nordean all played leadership roles in the Proud Boys and received some of the longest prison sentences of those sentenced over the riots: Nordean with 18 years, Biggs with 17 years and Rehl getting 15 years.
Pezzola, who was accused of assaulting former Capitol Police Officer Mark Ode by stealing his riot shield and using it to smash a window at the Capitol, was sentenced to 10 years.
All four have had their sentences commuted.
Proud Boys Zachary Rehl (left) and Ethan Nordean on January 6. Pic: AP
Elmer Stewart Rhodes
Rhodes, the founder of the militant Oath Keepers group, was convicted of seditious conspiracy.
While he did not enter the US Capitol building, he was convicted for plotting to use force against Congress to prevent the election certification.
Prosecutors at trial showed the jury encrypted messages, recordings and surveillance videos where Rhodes spoke about the prospect of a “bloody” civil war, and warned group members they may have to “rise up in insurrection” to defeat Mr Biden if Mr Trump did not act.
The former army paratrooper, who wears an eye patch after accidentally shooting himself in the face with his own gun, was jailed for 18 years but has now had his sentence commuted.
Oath Keepers militia founder Stewart Rhodes. Pic: Reuters
Kelly Meggs
Meggs, an Oath Keepers “chapter leader” from Florida was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes.
His wife Connie was also charged and convicted in a separate trial.
He was jailed for 12 years but had his sentence commuted by Mr Trump. His wife, like most of the January 6 defendants, received a pardon.
Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins
Oath Keepers associates Harrelson and Watkins went on trial alongside Rhodes and Kelly Meggs on criminal charges of seditious conspiracy.
While the jury acquitted them of that charge, they were convicted of a number of other crimes.
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Watkins, a transgender woman who during the trial spoke openly about the struggles she faced with her identity while serving in the military, was sentenced to eight-and-a-half years in prison, while Harrelson received four years.
Both had their sentences commuted.
The scene at the US Capitol on January 6. Pic: AP
Roberto Minuta, Edward Vallejo, Joseph Hackett and David Moerschel
Minuta, Vallejo, Hackett and Moerschel were a group of Oath Keepers who were put and trial and convicted of seditious conspiracy.
Their sentences – four-and-a-half years for Minuta, three years for Moerschel and Vallejo and 42 months for Hackett – were commuted by President Trump.
