The five leaders of the far-right Proud Boys, convicted for their involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, have launched a monumental lawsuit against the U.S. government, seeking $100 million in damages. They argue that their prosecution was marred by personal biases from FBI agents and prosecutors, asserting that their constitutional rights were violated in an effort to suppress supporters of former President Donald Trump.
Filed in Florida on Friday, the lawsuit includes prominent figures such as Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola, who were part of an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Biden's election victory. Tarrio received a 22-year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy, marking one of the most severe sentences among the group.
The legal filing alleges a coordinated effort to misuse the judicial system against them, charging that instances of "evidence tampering" and "witness intimidation" took place during their prosecutions. The case is directed at the U.S. Department of Justice, which is under the Trump administration and led by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Following their convictions, President Trump issued clemency for the Proud Boys leaders among a series of pardons granted on his inauguration day. Trump publicly criticized the treatment of those involved in the Capitol riot, labeling their prosecutions as "outrageous."
As of January, the Justice Department has reported around 1,583 individuals facing charges related to the Capitol riot, with a significant number charged with assaulting law enforcement during the melee. In stark contrast, while many in Congress condemned the riot, Trump described the incident as a "day of love," and his pardoning decisions have drawn sharp criticism from various Democratic lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called it an insult to the justice system.
Filed in Florida on Friday, the lawsuit includes prominent figures such as Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola, who were part of an attempt to disrupt the certification of President Biden's election victory. Tarrio received a 22-year prison sentence after being convicted of seditious conspiracy, marking one of the most severe sentences among the group.
The legal filing alleges a coordinated effort to misuse the judicial system against them, charging that instances of "evidence tampering" and "witness intimidation" took place during their prosecutions. The case is directed at the U.S. Department of Justice, which is under the Trump administration and led by Attorney General Pam Bondi.
Following their convictions, President Trump issued clemency for the Proud Boys leaders among a series of pardons granted on his inauguration day. Trump publicly criticized the treatment of those involved in the Capitol riot, labeling their prosecutions as "outrageous."
As of January, the Justice Department has reported around 1,583 individuals facing charges related to the Capitol riot, with a significant number charged with assaulting law enforcement during the melee. In stark contrast, while many in Congress condemned the riot, Trump described the incident as a "day of love," and his pardoning decisions have drawn sharp criticism from various Democratic lawmakers, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who called it an insult to the justice system.
