Trump Issues Broad Pardon of January 6 Protestors; Commutes Sentences of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers

President Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon forgiving all Americans charged and convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021 capitol attacks. 

The pardon also commuted the sentences of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leadership convicted for a series of crimes associated with the January 6 riots.

Trump has referred to many of those convicted and incarcerated for their participation in January 6 protests as “hostages” and "unbelievable patriots.”

Trump’s pardon alleges to “end a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begin a process of national reconciliation.”

In total, Trump’s broad pardon grants clemency to over 1,500 individuals connected to January 6, including dozens of Floridians.

Some of the most high-profile individuals pardoned or whose sentences  were commuted include Stewart Rhodes, Daniel Ball, Edward Vallejo, Kelly Meggs, Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola and Josiah Kenyon. 

Rhodes, Oath Keepers leader and founder, had his 18 year prison sentence for plotting to overthrow the US government commuted. 

Meggs, a Floridian leading the Oath Keepers Florida branch, similarly had a 12 year prison sentence commuted. 

Henry Tarrio, the former national chairman of the Proud Boys and a Miami resident, will see his 22-year prison sentence for attempting to forcefully interfere in the 2020 elections scrapped thanks to Trump’s pardon.

“The leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, learned that the consequence of conspiring to oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power is 22 years in federal prison,” former Attorney General Merrick Garland had said at Tarrio’s sentencing. 

Other Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean and Dominic Pezzola, who faced a combined 30 year sentence for their actions on January 6, also had their sentences commuted. 

Vallejo, an army veteran also sentenced for plotting a violent coup on the US government, had a three year sentence commuted. 

Kenyon, who was sentenced to 72 months in prison and ordered to pay $43,315.25 in restitution after pleading guilty to assaulting a police officer, will also depart prison in the coming days thanks to Trump’s pardon. 

Ball, another Floridian pardoned, was arrested in May 2023 for crimes including assaulting a police officer with an explosive device. 

Hundreds of more individuals being investigated, charged, and convicted due to their involvement in the January 6 riots were similarly pardoned.