The Justice Department on Tuesday asked federal courts to vacate convictions against a dozen former members of the right-wing Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, most of whom were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
Key Takeaways
The Justice Department has asked courts to vacate seditious conspiracy convictions against 12 members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. These individuals had their prison sentences commuted by President Trump but retained their convictions.
- DOJ seeks to erase convictions for 12 Jan. 6 defendants, including Stewart Rhodes and Ethan Nordean
- Defendants were convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges related to the Capitol attack
- Prosecutors argue dismissing cases is in the interests of justice
- Trump previously commuted sentences but did not pardon these individuals
According to multiple reports, these individuals had their prison sentences commuted by President Trump last year but retained their convictions. The DOJ's move aims to wipe away some of the final standing charges from the Capitol riot. Among those affected are Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, and Ethan Nordean, a leader of the Proud Boys.
The DOJ filed motions in three separate cases where the defendants had appealed their convictions, asking federal appeals panels to vacate lower court judgments with prejudice. This means the cases could not be brought again. The filings were signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro and argue that continuing these prosecutions is not in the interests of justice.
The move represents a significant reversal from the Biden administration, which previously hailed the guilty verdicts as crucial victories in holding accountable those responsible for what prosecutors described as an attack on American democracy. The DOJ's request includes convictions of Oath Keepers members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, and Jessica Watkins, as well as Proud Boys members Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola.
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