Proud Boys leaders sue DOJ over Jan. 6 prosecutions
Share this @internewscast.com


Five leaders of the Proud Boys convicted of spearheading the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack are accusing the government and FBI employees of violating their constitutional rights, according to a lawsuit filed Friday.

The lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida, seeks $100 million in restitution and comes after President Trump pardoned nearly all Jan. 6 defendants on his first day back in the White House.

The five Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, Joe Biggs and Dominic Pezzola stood trial together in 2023, accused of plotting to stop the certification of the 2020 presidential election so Trump could stay in power after he lost the election.

Four of the men were found guilty of seditious conspiracy. Pezzola was acquitted of that charge but convicted of other serious felonies.

Now, they claim the “political prosecution” violated their rights.

“What follows is a parade of horribles: 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,” the 28-page complaint reads.

The lawsuit could force Trump’s Justice Department to defend the sweeping Jan. 6 prosecution undertaken by the DOJ of his predecessor, former President Biden, or pay damages to the right-wing extremist group leaders at the expense of American taxpayers.

Former U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland once described the Jan. 6 probe as one of the “largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations” in the Justice Department’s history.

Its crown jewel was the sedition convictions of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, another right-wing extremist group whose members were found guilty of plotting ahead of the Capitol attack. 

Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison the longest term of incarceration for any Jan. 6 defendant. But that sentence was wiped away when Trump pardoned him on Jan. 20.

Trump commuted the sentences of 14 other Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. An affiliate of the Oath Keepers whose sentence was commuted, Thomas Caldwell, has since been pardoned

The lawsuit cites Trump’s pardon proclamation, which claimed to “end a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years.” 

Speaking to reporters Friday alongside Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, Tarrio called on Trump to pardon the remaining Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. The complaint says that Biggs, Nordean, Pezzola and Rehl applied for pardons in May. 

“You’ve seen what the president has said about Jan. 6ers, and I believe that he did the right thing when he pardoned us on day one,” Tarrio said Friday. “And, I think there’s a lot of work to be done.”

Updated at 3:14 p.m. EDT

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like

Utah Court Decides Dementia-Afflicted Convict Fit for Execution

SALT LAKE CITY – A Utah state judge has ruled that a…

1.7 Million Air Conditioners Recalled Due to Mold Concerns

(NewsNation) — Approximately 1.7 million window air conditioners are being recalled across…

Report: WWE Legend Ric Flair Diagnosed with Skin Cancer for the Second Time in Three Years

Video above: WWE legend Ric Flair stops by Nexstar’s WFLA TAMPA, Fla.…

Colonial Past Influences US Territory’s Voting and Citizenship Conflicts

WHITTIER, Alaska – Nestled between glacier-filled mountains and the serene Prince William…

Army Secretary Advocates for Right to Repair: Seeks Access to Tools and Parts

() The Right to Repair is gaining a ton of momentum across…

Los Angeles ICE Raids Result in Arrest of 44, Including Union Leader

After a day of contention and little information about the nature of…

Kilmar Abrego Garcia Returns to the U.S., Faces Human Smuggling Charges While Lawyers Pledge Continued Legal Battle

The Trump administration describes Kilmar Abrego Garcia as a key figure in…

Arrest Made in Smyth County Murder Case, Says Sheriff

SMYTH COUNTY, Va. (WJHL) — A man has been arrested after an…

Florida Governor DeSantis Signs New Laws: See the Complete List

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – On Friday, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed 11 more…

Sonya Massey’s Son Malachi to Graduate from Southeast High School

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (NEXSTAR) — On Saturday, Malachi Hill-Massey will step up to…

Netflix Documentary Unveils Fresh Insights on 2023 Titan Submersible Implosion

An upcoming Netflix documentary unveils new insights about the Titan submersible from…

Wesley Chapel Family Claims Dog Survived Backyard Alligator Encounter

TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — A family in Wesley Chapel is traumatized after…