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

Discover Central Florida’s Thanksgiving Weather: Sunshine or Showers?

ORLANDO, FL – Wishing you a joyful Thanksgiving! The holiday kicks off…

Asian Markets Show Mixed Performance Amid Holiday-Thinned Trading as Wall Street Pauses for Thanksgiving

MANILA – Asian markets presented a mixed picture on Friday, with trading…

Tragic Shooting in Orange County Leaves Two Dead; Suspect Apprehended by Deputies

ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Tragedy struck in Orange County on Thursday as…

High-Speed Chase on I-95: ‘Super Speeder’ Nabbed at 111 MPH in Brevard County

TITUSVILLE, Fla. – In a dramatic turn of events on Tuesday, a…

Valencia Students and Salvation Army Collaborate to Serve Heartwarming Thanksgiving Feast in Orlando

ORLANDO, Fla. – Early Thursday morning, a group of dedicated volunteers gathered…

Elizabethton’s Feast of Sharing: Nourishing Meals and Warm Clothes Unite Community

In Elizabethton, Tennessee, the First Baptist Church has once again opened its…

Black Friday 2023 Shopping Guide: Store Opening Times Revealed for Major Retailers

In the modern age of online shopping, Black Friday may feel like…

Feeding Tampa Bay: Empowering the Community with Hundreds of Thanksgiving Meals

In Tampa, Florida, the Norris family found themselves uncertain about how they…

Step Up Your Thanksgiving: Embrace the Turkey Trot Tradition for a Healthier Holiday!

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (WJHL) — Enthusiasm filled the air at the Johnson…

Travelers Hit the Road Early to Dodge Post-Thanksgiving Traffic Surge

ORLANDO, Fla. – As the Thanksgiving season unfolds, millions are on the…

Essential Tips for a Smooth Thanksgiving Road Trip: Travel Safely and Stress-Free

Thanksgiving stands out as one of the busiest travel periods of the…

Energy Diplomacy: Hungary’s Viktor Orbán Meets Putin in Moscow for Strategic Talks

Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban speaks during a meeting with President Donald…