Washington, D.C. – A federal judge on Friday formally dismissed the landmark criminal case against several leaders of the Proud Boys, vacating their convictions related to the January 6, 2021, protests at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly granted the Justice Department’s motion, effectively ending one of the most significant prosecutions stemming from the events of that day.
"No one should mistake the Court’s granting of the Government’s motion for its agreement with those decisions." — U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly
The dismissal comes at the request of President Donald Trump’s administration, which had moved to vacate the convictions entirely. Judge Kelly cited constitutional separation of powers principles as the basis for his decision, stating he had no legal authority to reject the executive branch’s request. "In light of fundamental separation of powers principles … the proper course here is for the Court simply to grant the motion in full," Judge Kelly wrote in his ruling. The dismissal was entered "with prejudice," a legal designation that prevents any future Justice Department from bringing the same charges against the defendants again.
Despite granting the motion, Judge Kelly underscored that his ruling should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the administration's decision to drop the case. "No one should mistake the Court’s granting of the Government’s motion for its agreement with those decisions," he emphasized. He also noted, "President Trump’s views about the prosecution of those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6 — whether those views are based on fact or fiction — are well known."
The case centered on the convictions of Proud Boys leaders Enrique Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joe Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. These individuals had been found guilty of serious offenses, including seditious conspiracy, after a six-month trial. Federal prosecutors during the trial had argued that the Proud Boys organized a "fighting force" that played a pivotal role in instigating and driving the violence at the Capitol as Congress convened to certify the 2020 presidential election results. According to trial evidence presented by prosecutors, members of the group participated in multiple breaches of police lines. Dominic Pezzola, in particular, was accused of using a stolen police riot shield to break a Senate-wing window, creating one of the initial entry points into the Capitol building.
The January 6 riot led to significant disruption, forcing lawmakers to evacuate the Capitol and delaying the certification of the presidential election. More than 100 law enforcement officers sustained injuries during the attack.
Upon returning to office, President Donald Trump initiated a broader effort to address the legal status of individuals charged in connection with January 6. He issued pardons for many Jan. 6 defendants and instructed the Justice Department to dismiss hundreds of pending cases related to the Capitol attack. Among those pardoned was Enrique Tarrio, who had received a 22-year prison sentence, which was the longest term imposed on any defendant in connection with Jan. 6.
While other Proud Boys leaders initially received sentence commutations rather than full pardons and continued appealing their convictions, the Justice Department, under acting Attorney General Todd Blanche, later moved to vacate those convictions entirely and dismiss the case. This move aligns with President Trump’s stated policy regarding the Jan. 6 prosecutions.
In a related development, the Justice Department has also sought to erase the convictions of Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and other members of that organization. That request is currently under consideration by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta.
Following Friday’s ruling, Enrique Tarrio celebrated the outcome on social media. "We took the worst they threw at us, the raids, the solitary, the lies and we stood tall," Tarrio wrote. "Trump dropped the pardons and now the rest is crumbling. Justice is SERVED!" His post included an image of a court document related to the dismissal, dated July 10, 2026.
The dismissal of the Proud Boys case marks a significant turn in the legal aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack, reflecting the executive branch's prerogative to direct federal prosecutions and the judiciary's role in upholding the separation of powers.
