Proud Boys leaders pardoned by Trump sue over Jan. 6 convictions
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Pro-Trump protester gather in front of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Photo: Jon Cherry/Getty Images
Five leaders of the Proud Boys sued the federal government on Friday, alleging their constitutional rights were violated when they were prosecuted for their actions on Jan. 6, 2021.
The big picture: The members of the right-wing extremist group, four of whom were convicted for engaging in seditious conspiracy, were among those pardoned in President Trump's unprecedented act of clemency for defendants charged with participating in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
- They're seeking $100 million in restitution from the government.
Zoom in: The federal civil rights suit, filed by Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola, also names individual FBI and DOJ employees.
- The Proud Boys members claim there was an "egregious and systemic abuse of the legal system and the United States Constitution to punish and oppress political allies of President Trump, by any and all means necessary, legal, or illegal."
Between the lines: The Trump administration will now either have to defend the prosecutions against the men or pay damages from taxpayer funds to the extremist group.
- The DOJ did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment. The FBI declined to comment on the pending litigation.
Context: Prior to being pardoned, Tarrio was sentenced in 2023 to 22 years in prison after being found guilty of engaging in seditious conspiracy related to the Jan. 6 riot — the longest prison sentence handed down in the Jan. 6 cases.
- Biggs and Rehl were sentenced for seditious conspiracy and other charges in their Jan. 6 cases, with Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison and Rehl to 15 years in prison.
- Nordean was sentenced to 18 years in prison after also being found guilty of seditious conspiracy.
- Pezzola was sentenced to 10 years. While he was found not guilty of seditious conspiracy, he was convicted of of obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to prevent Congress and federal law enforcement from their duties, and destruction of government property.
Go deeper: The most notorious Jan. 6 defendants pardoned by Trump
Editor's note: The story has been updated with comment from the FBI.
