The Justice Department asked federal courts to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions for Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders involved in the January 6 Capitol riot, according to multiple reports. The request affects a dozen defendants whose prison sentences were commuted by President Trump last year but retained their convictions.
Key Takeaways
The Justice Department asked federal courts to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions for Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
- DOJ files motions to dismiss convictions, citing prosecutorial discretion
- President Trump commuted sentences of these defendants last year
- Convictions include those of Stewart Rhodes (Oath Keepers) and Ethan Nordean (Proud Boys)
- Move represents a reversal from the Biden administration's stance on Jan. 6 prosecutions
The DOJ filed motions on Tuesday asking federal appeals panels to vacate lower court judgments with prejudice, meaning these cases could not be brought again. Among those affected are Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, and Ethan Nordean, a leader of the Proud Boys. The filings were signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro.
The move represents a significant reversal from the Biden administration's stance on Jan. 6 prosecutions. President Trump commuted the prison sentences of these defendants to 'time served' last January, allowing them to be released without serving additional time. The DOJ is also seeking to vacate the conviction of Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola.
The defendants celebrated the news, with Zachary Rehl posting on X that 'this chapter is finally over.' Kelly Meggs expressed relief that their nightmare may be coming to an end. Nordean's attorney, Nicholas Smith, said they are grateful to the Justice Department for its 'wise decision' in seeking dismissal of the convictions.
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