Former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stuart Rhodes have been released from prison, as President Donald Trump freed more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riots four years ago.
Within less than 24 hours of Trump signing pardons or commuting sentences for those convicted of trying to violently overturn the 2020 election, the two most prominent leaders of the riot left prison. Trump also rejects charges against those accused of perpetrating the riots.
“My son Enrique Tarrio has been officially released as of now!” Zuny Tarrio was published on X on Tuesday.
Rhodes, who was not pardoned but had his sentence commuted, told local media that he was waiting outside the Washington prison for the defendants to be released.
Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, was accused of leading a contingent of Oath Keepers members to Washington.
Although Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building, he was directing its members from the outside, and in 2023 he was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy—a charge rarely used to plot the overthrow of a government—during the riots. He was not in Washington, D.C. during the riots but directed others involved.
He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, one of the longest sentences.
Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an order directing the Justice Department to drop all pending cases against suspects charged in the riot.
One of these defendants' top advocates – Edward R. Martin – has also been appointed to the position of acting US Attorney in Washington, D.C., demonstrating the depth of Trump's desire to end years-long prosecutions. The Washington office was responsible for prosecuting cases related to January 6.
Democrats condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and clean up the riots that led to many deaths.
Trump described the day as “peaceful” and described the jailed rioters as “hostages.”
