In an unprecedented move that has reshaped the landscape of January 6 prosecutions, over 1,500 defendants have been granted clemency through a sweeping executive order by President Donald Trump. Among those affected are two of the most prominent figures in the Capitol riot investigation: former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who had been serving some of the longest sentences handed down in the case.
Major figures released from federal custody
The dramatic development saw the release of Tarrio, who had been serving a 22-year prison term, and Rhodes, who was halfway through an 18-year sentence. Both men had been convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in orchestrating plots related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol, which aimed to prevent the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential victory.
The pair’s release was confirmed by their attorneys to The Associated Press on Tuesday, marking a significant turning point in what had become the largest criminal investigation in Justice Department history. Their freedom came as part of a broader executive action that affected all defendants facing federal charges connected to the Capitol riot.
Scope of the clemency order
Trump’s order extends beyond just these high-profile cases, encompassing a wide range of defendants, including:
- Leaders of extremist groups convicted in major conspiracy cases
- Individuals convicted of violent attacks against law enforcement
- Hundreds of others facing various federal charges related to the Capitol breach
The order effectively nullifies the Justice Department’s massive investigation and prosecution effort, which had resulted in hundreds of convictions and lengthy prison sentences for many participants in the January 6 events. Both Rhodes, from Granbury, Texas, and Tarrio, from Miami, had received some of the harshest punishments handed down in these cases before their sentences were wiped away.
