Capitol riot leaders Tarrio and Rhodes released from prison
Former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes are out of prison, Donald ·President Donald Trump has released more than 1,500 people charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riots 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 most prominent leaders of the riots were released from prison. Trump also dismissed charges against those charged in connection with the riot but who have not yet been tried.
“My son Enrique Tarrio is now officially released!” Zuny Tarrio posted on X.
Rhodes was not pardoned but had his sentence reduced and is in jail awaiting the defendant’s release.
Rhodes, a former U.S. Army paratrooper and Yale-educated attorney, is accused of leading a team of Oath Keepers to Washington.
Although Rhodes did not enter the Capitol, he directed his members from outside and was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in federal prison.
Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy over the riot, a rarely used charge of plotting to overthrow the government. 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 riot suspects.
Many of them have been held in Washington, D.C., jails for more than a year, and Trump frequently referred to them as “hostages” during the campaign as they awaited trial.
The defendants’ lead defender, Edward R Martin, was also appointed as the acting U.S. attorney in Washington, D.C., a sign of the extent to which Trump is eager to end the prosecutions quickly. The Washington Office is responsible for hearing cases related to January 6, 2021.
But for some of the inmates’ families, Tuesday’s release process was frustrating.
Ben Pollock stands outside the Central Jail in Washington, D.C., with his children, Jonathan and Olivia, locked inside. He said he had spoken with his son and learned they might be transferred to another prison.
“We don’t know what happened,” he said. “Why haven’t they been released yet?”
Democrats condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and sanitize riot violence that left many dead.
Trump described the day as “peaceful.”
