WASHINGTON — Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes have been released from prison after their long sentences for seditious conspiracy in the United States. January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol were deleted by a radical order of President Donald Trump benefiting more than 1,500 defendants.
Rhodes and Tarrio were two of the highest-profile defendants on Jan. 6 and received some of the harshest sentences in what became the largest investigation in Justice Department history. Rhodes, from Granbury, Texas, was serving a sentence of 18 years in prison and Tarrio, from Miami, served a sentence of 22 years after being convicted of orchestrating plots to prevent the peaceful transfer of power after Trump, a Republican, lost the 2020 election to Democrat Joe Biden.
Their lawyers confirmed to The Associated Press on Tuesday that they were released hours after Trump pardoned, commuted sentences or ordered the dismissal of charges against the more than 1,500 people charged with federal crimes in the riots. Trump’s action paved the way for the release from prison of leaders of extremist groups convicted in major conspiracy cases, as well as people convicted of violent attacks against law enforcement.
