Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, has formally requested a pardon from President-elect Donald Trump. Tarrio, sentenced to 22 years in prison for seditious conspiracy in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, made the plea through his lawyer, Nayib Hassan. This marks Tarrio’s first direct appeal to Trump for clemency.
The attack, aimed at halting certification of the 2020 election, left over 140 officers injured and resulted in five deaths. Tarrio’s case, the longest sentence handed down among Jan. 6 defendants, involved directing others remotely to breach the Capitol.
Trump, set to be inaugurated on January 20 after winning the 2024 election, has pledged to review pardons for individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol breach. Transition team spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt stated that Trump intends to pardon those denied due process, though case-by-case evaluations will be made.
Advocates for the defendants, including Suzzanne Monk, are urging blanket clemency on Trump’s first day in office. Monk said discussions are ongoing with Trump’s inner circle to secure immediate releases or commutations.
Over 1,500 individuals have been charged in relation to January 6, with about 1,100 cases adjudicated. Trump has previously labeled many of the defendants as patriots, but indicated that exceptions may apply for more extreme actions.
As Congress certified the 2024 election without incident on Monday, the debate over pardons remains a contentious issue for Trump’s incoming administration.
