Four Proud Boy leaders convicted of treason are among hundreds of Capitol protesters set to walk free following pardons and commutations issued by President-elect Donald Trump.
Enrique Tarrio, who was a gang leader during the revolution four years ago, was sentenced to 22 years in prison—the longest sentence of any person received on January 6. He received amnesty. Co-defendants Zachary Rehl, Joseph Biggs, and Ethan Nordean, who were previously sentenced to 15, 17, and 18 years, had their sentences commuted and released as of Monday.
Tarrio’s mother, Zuny Duarte, told WIRED that Enrique will return to Miami at 3 p.m. Tuesday. He was serving his sentence at the state prison in Pollock, Louisiana.
Trump commuted 14 sentences and granted amnesty to all others convicted in connection with the Capitol violence. A total of 1,580 people have been charged in connection with January 6.
“These people have been destroyed, what they’ve done to these people is incredible, it’s rare in the history of this country,” Trump said of the January 6th from the Oval Office. He also spread the idea that “foreign agents” and the FBI were responsible for the violence that occurred on January 6. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was also convicted of attempted treason, also received a reduced sentence and will be released.
Trump teased the upcoming pardon at his previous event Monday at Capital One Arena, promising the imminent release of the “J6 hostages.”
“Ooh, you’ll be happy to read the newspapers tomorrow and the next day and the next day,” he said.
Reached by phone early Monday, Duarte told WIRED that they are awaiting Enrique’s release. “The boys are happy and think that justice will come to us in the end,” said Duarte. “Donald Trump knows what it’s like to be on the side of the persecuted and on the unjust side of things.”
Asked if Tarrio is still involved with the Proud Boys, Duarte replied: “That’s a question you have to ask him when he’s out.
Before Trump put ink to paper, news that correctional facilities were beginning to operate on January 6th for deportations had already begun to circulate online. Social media accounts linked to the Proud Boys were excited, and Gavin McInnes, who founded the Proud Boys in 2016, announced a “Boy Band” on his show as he collected donations to support released gang members.
As a first-day act, it was an incredibly symbolic act. Four years ago, on January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters fueled by conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, came to DC and besieged the Capitol with the aim of preventing a peaceful transfer of power. These terrible scenes ended with the death of five people, left more than 140 police officers injured, and Trump left Washington in disgrace.
Weeks later, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th president of the US behind riot police, barricaded wire, and under the eyes of more than 25,000 soldiers.