Capitol riot leaders Tarrio and Rhodes released from prison happymamay

WATCH: Militia leader Stuart Rhodes leaves prison after Trump issues pardon on January 6

Former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stuart Rhodes have been released from prison, as President Donald Trump freed more than 1,500 people accused of perpetrating the U.S. Capitol riot four years ago.

Less than 24 hours after Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of those who tried to violently overturn the 2020 election, the riot’s two most prominent leaders left prison. Trump is also dismissing charges against those accused of perpetrating the riot, but who have not yet been tried.

“My son Enrique Tarrio has been officially released as of now!” Zuny Tarrio is published on X.

Rhodes, who was not pardoned but had his sentence commuted, is awaiting the release of the defendants in prison.

Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, was accused of leading a contingent of Oath Keepers members to Washington.

Although Rhodes did not enter the Capitol building, he directed its members from the outside, and was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in federal prison.

Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy—a charge rarely used to plot the overthrow of a government—during the riots. He was not in Washington, D.C. during the riots but directed others involved.

He was sentenced to 22 years in prison, one of the longest sentences.

Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an order directing the Justice Department to drop all pending cases against suspects charged in the riot.

Many of these people have been imprisoned in Washington, D.C., for more than a year, and Trump often referred to them during his campaign as “hostages” as they await trial.

One of these defendants’ top advocates – Edward R. Martin – has also been appointed to the position of acting US Attorney in Washington, D.C., demonstrating the depth of Trump’s desire to quickly end the prosecutions. The Washington office was responsible for prosecuting cases related to January 6, 2021.

But for some of these prisoners’ families, Tuesday’s release was frustrating.

Ben Bullock, who was standing outside D.C.’s Central Prison, where his children Jonathan and Olivia were being held, said he spoke to his son and learned they might be transferred to another facility.

“We have no idea what’s going on,” he said. “Why weren’t they released?”

Democrats condemned the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and clean up the riots that led to many deaths.

Trump described the day as “peaceful.”

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