Trump pardons former Philadelphia Proud Boys leader for Jan. 6 Capitol riot

A former leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group was among 1,500 people granted clemency by President Donald Trump as he returned to the White House for his first day in office on Monday.

What we know:

The president pardoned, commuted the prison sentences or vowed to dismiss the cases of more than 1,500 people charged with crimes for the attack on the nation's Capitol on January 6, 2021.

"These are the hostages," he said while signing the paperwork in the Oval Office after being sworn in as the 47th President of the United States.

Trump also commuted prison sentences for 14 people, including defendants captured on camera committing violent attacks on law enforcement as lawmakers met to certify President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory. 

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"This proclamation ends a grave national injustice that has been perpetrated upon the American people over the last four years and begins a process of national reconciliation."

Zachary Rehl was named as one of the rioters set to be released from prison.

The backstory:

In August 2023, Zachary Rehl was sentenced to 15 years in prison after being seen on video spraying a chemical irritant at law enforcement officers outside the Capitol, an act federal prosecutors said he repeatedly lied about.

Rehl was convicted for seditious conspiracy after prosecutors say he helped lead dozens of Proud Boys members and associates in marching to the Capitol, and joining the mob that broke through police lines and forced lawmakers to flee.

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Rehl was a Proud Boys chapter leader from Philadelphia. Prosecutors say Rehl helped lead group members and associates on Jan. 6, 2021, before they joined the mob’s Capitol assault.

The former Philadelphia Proud Boys leader then led at least three other men into the Capitol and into a senator’s office, where he smoked and posed for pictures while flashing the Proud Boys’ hand gesture, according to the Associated Press.

Later that day, he expressed pride for his role in the attack.

"Seems like our raid of the capital set off a chain reaction of events throughout the country," Rehl wrote in a message to his mother.

What's next:

Trump said he hopes many are freed shortly. And while some inmates can be released from custody on the same day a pardon is granted, other larger-scale clemency actions by a president can take more time to institute.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Rehl's release date from FCI Petersburg Medium in Virginia was still listed as unknown.

The Source: Information from this article was sources from previous reporting, the Associated Press, and White House statements.

PhiladelphiaDonald J. TrumpCapitol Riot