WASHINGTON, USA – Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys chairman convicted of seditious conspiracy for his role in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, is being released from prison following a full pardon from President Donald Trump.
Tarrio’s attorney, Nayib Hassan, confirmed the news Monday, January 20, 2025, night but noted that it remains unclear how long the process of securing his release will take.
Tarrio, who was serving a 22-year sentence in a federal prison in Louisiana—the longest sentence handed down for January 6-related prosecutions—is one of the highest-profile figures to receive clemency from Trump.
Trump’s Clemency Proclamation
Trump’s clemency order directs the attorney general to issue “certificates of pardon” to all individuals convicted of offenses tied to the Capitol riot and mandates the immediate release of those currently incarcerated.
Several other prominent January 6 defendants also received pardons, including:
- Jacob Chansley, the so-called “QAnon Shaman,” who became a widely recognized figure for his appearance in face paint and a horned headdress inside the Senate chamber. Chansley, who pleaded guilty to felony obstruction, had already completed his 41-month prison sentence.
- Richard Barnett, photographed with his feet propped on a desk in then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office during the riot. Convicted of eight charges, including civil disorder, Barnett had been sentenced to four years in prison.
- Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, a Nazi sympathizer, convicted in 2022 of crimes related to his involvement in the riot. During his trial, prosecutors presented evidence of his anti-Semitic rhetoric and expressed desire for civil war.
A Polarizing Decision
The pardons, issued on Trump’s first day back in office, fulfill a campaign promise to review and potentially clear January 6-related convictions.
Trump has repeatedly referred to the convicted rioters as “patriots” and claimed their actions were expressions of political dissent.
Critics, however, argue that the sweeping clemency undermines accountability for the violence that left five people dead, injured over 140 police officers, and caused $2.8 million in damages to the Capitol.
In a statement accompanying the pardons, Trump defended his actions, calling the prosecutions “a politically motivated attempt to silence dissent and criminalize free speech.”
Implications for January 6 Accountability
While Tarrio’s release is still pending procedural formalities, his pardon and the broader clemency order mark a significant shift in how the federal government will address accountability for the Capitol attack.
The Biden administration had pursued one of the most expansive federal investigations in U.S. history, charging nearly 1,600 individuals and securing hundreds of convictions.
The decision to pardon January 6 participants has sparked immediate controversy, with bipartisan criticism and support from Trump’s loyal base.
The Bureau of Prisons has not yet commented on the timeline for releasing the pardoned individuals.
The move signals a contentious start to Trump’s presidency and raises questions about the future of justice and accountability for one of the darkest days in modern U.S. history.
