Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys, and Stewart Rhodes, the head of the Oath Keepers, were released from prison on Tuesday after President Donald Trump issued a sweeping pardon to those convicted in connection with the January 6 Capitol riot. Tarrio was serving a 22-year sentence for his role in the riot, while Rhodes was serving an 18-year sentence for seditious conspiracy.
The Oath Keepers had stockpiled weapons at a D.C. hotel and organized the attack, according to prosecutors. Rhodes maintained that his group only intended to provide security and medical aid to those attending pro-Trump demonstrations in the area, but prosecutors pointed to a nine-page strategic plan to “storm” government buildings in Washington on January 6 that was found in Tarrio’s possession after the riot.
Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy and given the longest sentence of all of the convicted January 6 rioters. During his sentencing, prosecutors pointed to violent rhetoric he used in messages with other members of the group about what they would do if Congress moved forward in certifying President Joe Biden’s election win.
Former FBI Director Christopher Wray described both the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers as domestic extremist groups, and the FBI considers the Capitol attack a form of domestic terrorism.
The pardons have raised concerns among current and former DOJ officials, who worry that the released rioters could seek to target prosecutors, judges, or witnesses who testified against them. The release of the rioters comes as a group of Trump supporters, Proud Boys members, and others gathered to cheer them on, carrying flags and signs that read “no man left behind” and “pardon all j6 hostages day one.”