Former Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Seeks Trump’s Pardon for January 6 Incident
The president-elect has expressed intentions to grant pardons to numerous individuals charged in connection with the Jan. 6 events.
A former leader of the Proud Boys, facing a 22-year prison sentence related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach, has formally requested a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump, as indicated in a letter from his lawyer sent on Monday.
To date, over 1,500 individuals across the U.S. have had federal charges leveled against them for offenses associated with the Capitol breach. Additionally, hundreds of others were charged with misdemeanors for illegally entering the Capitol, even if they did not participate in any violence or destruction.
The most severe sentence, 22 years, was handed down to Enrique Tarrio, the former national chairman of the Proud Boys, who was found guilty of seditious conspiracy alongside three co-defendants. In a letter to Trump, Tarrio’s attorney implored the president-elect to consider a pardon for him.
The letter highlights that Tarrio was not present at the Capitol on January 6, having been ordered out of Washington due to an unrelated matter. His lawyer asserted that Tarrio would respect the pardon and uphold its significance with “gratitude and integrity.”
Moreover, his attorney contended that the Biden administration targeted Tarrio based on his political beliefs rather than any alleged actions aimed at undermining the 2020 election through violence.
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In addition to Tarrio, several leaders from the Oath Keepers and other Proud Boys members also received convictions for seditious conspiracy, as prosecutors described their actions as attempts to employ violence to prevent the peaceful transition of power from Trump to Biden four years earlier.
Trump, who has committed to pardoning a number of those charged for their roles on Jan. 6, is set to be inaugurated in two weeks. However, he has yet to indicate any intentions regarding pardons for Tarrio, other Proud Boys members, or Oath Keepers.
Meanwhile, the Department of Justice (DOJ) is reportedly weighing charges against up to 200 additional individuals suspected of involvement in the Capitol breach that occurred on Jan. 6, 2021, as stated in agency records.
As of January 1, at least 1,020 individuals had entered guilty pleas. More than 1,000 of those who participated in the riot have faced sentencing, with over 700 receiving prison time. The rest were subjected to various forms of penalties, including probation, community service, home detention, and fines.
“The FBI continues to gather tips about individuals implicated in various crimes at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, who have yet to face charges,” the DOJ remarked. “This aligns with standard FBI procedures for receiving citizen tips regarding potential suspects in federal crimes.”
In spite of Trump’s promises regarding the Jan. 6 pardons, legal proceedings, sentences, and pleas continue to unfold in federal court in Washington. Trump has referred to these individuals as “hostages” and “political prisoners,” asserting that they were subject to political targeting and mistreatment.
“Over the past four years, our prosecutors, FBI agents, investigators, and analysts have been involved in one of the most intricate and resource-intensive investigations in the history of the Justice Department,” Garland stated.
Recently, Trump hinted at the pardoning process in an NBC News interview on “Meet the Press,” stating he would take swift action on his “first day” and mentioned there might be “some exceptions” concerning individuals who demonstrated behavior considered “radical” or “crazy” during the events.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
