Proud Boys leader to be free after Trump releases all Jan. 6 rioters

Four Proud Boys leaders convicted of sedition and conspiracy among hundreds of Capitol rioters are set to go free after newly inaugurated President Donald Trump issued pardons and commutations.

Enrique Tarrio, leader of a far-right gang during the uprising four years ago, was sentenced to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence in the Jan. 6 incident. He was pardoned. His co-defendants Zachary Rehl, Joseph Biggs and Ethan Nordean were previously sentenced to 15, 17 and 18 years respectively. His sentence was reduced and he was ordered released on Monday.

Tarrio's mother, Zuny Duarte, told Wired that Enrique will return to Miami on Tuesday at 3 p.m. He has been serving his sentence at the federal prison in Pollock, Louisiana.

Trump commuted the sentences and granted full pardons to 14 people convicted of the Capitol riots. In total, approximately 1,580 people have been charged with offenses related to January 6.

"These people have been devastated, and what they've done to these people is appalling," Trump said of the Jan. 6 supporters in the Oval Office. "There's been very little like it in the history of this country. He also advanced conspiracy theories that "outside agitators" and the FBI were somehow responsible for the violence that occurred on January 6. Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was also found guilty of seditious conspiracy, also had his sentence reduced and will be acquitted.

Trump teased the upcoming pardons and promised the imminent release of the "J6 hostages" during an event at Capital One Arena earlier Monday.

"Oh, you'll be happy reading the paper tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow, and the day after tomorrow," he said.

Duarte told Wired by phone earlier Monday that they expected Enrique to be released. "These people are excited that justice is finally going to come to us," Duarte said. “Donald Trump knows what it’s like to be on the side of the indicted and on the side of injustice.”

When asked if Tarrio was still involved with the Proud Boys, Duarte responded: "That's a question you need to ask him after he quits."

Even before Trump put pen to paper, news that correctional facilities began processing and releasing inmates on January 6 began circulating online. Social media accounts associated with the Proud Boys erupted in jubilation, with Gavin McInnes, who founded the group in 2016, declaring a "party for the boys" on his livestream while collecting donations to support Freed members of the gang.

As a first-day performance, this is a very symbolic performance. Four years ago, on January 6, 2021, thousands of Trump supporters, spurred by conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, came to Washington and besieged the Capitol Building with the goal of preventing the peaceful transfer of power. The ugly scenes ultimately left five people dead and more than 140 police officers injured, and Trump left Washington in disgrace.

Weeks later, Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States behind riot barriers, behind razor wire, and in front of more than 25,000 National Guard troops.