U.S. Judge Dismisses Proud Boys Jan. 6 Convictions

U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, a Trump‑appointed jurist, granted the Justice Department’s request to dismiss the seditious‑conspiracy convictions of four Proud Boys members—Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola. The dismissal was entered with prejudice, permanently barring any future federal prosecution on the same counts.

The ruling follows President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20, 2025 executive order that granted broad clemency to roughly 1,500 Jan. 6 defendants and specifically commuted the sentences of the four men. Kelly wrote that the court “lacks the authority to compel the Executive to pursue a prosecution” and noted “little mystery” about the administration’s decision, while emphasizing that the Capitol assault was a “perilous event” and an attack on the peaceful transfer of power.

Although the judge expressed disagreement with the policy, he said the judiciary had no choice but to accept the executive move. Reactions ranged from celebrations by former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio to criticism that erasing the convictions undermines accountability for the 2021 Capitol riot.