Capitol riot leaders Tarrio and Rhodes released from jail
Former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes have been released from prison, as President Donald Trump released more than 1,500 people charged in the US Capitol riot four years ago.
Less than 24 hours after Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of those who tried to violently overturn the 2020 election, two of the riot’s most prominent leaders left prison. Trump is also dismissing charges against people who have been charged in the riot but have not yet been tried.
“My son, Enrique Tarrio, has now been officially released!” Zuni Tarrio posted on X.
Rhodes, who was not pardoned but had his sentence reduced, remains in jail waiting for the defendants to be released.
Rhodes, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, was charged with leading a contingent of his Oath Keepers members to Washington.
Although Rhodes did not enter the Capitol, he gave instructions to his members outside and was sentenced to 18 years in prison in 2023.
Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy – a rarely used charge of plotting to overthrow the government – over the riot. He was not in Washington DC during the riots but directed others involved.
He received a 22-year sentence, one of the longest.
Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an order directing the Justice Department to drop all pending cases against suspects accused in the riot.
A lead attorney for those defendants — Edward R. Martin — was also made acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., reflecting the depth of Trump’s desire to end the years-long prosecution. The Washington office was in charge of hearing cases related to January 6.
Democrats have condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and whitewash the violence of the riot, which led to many deaths.
Trump has described the day as “peaceful” and the jailed or detained rioters as “hostages.”
