WASHINGTON, D.C. – Five members of the far-right group known as the Proud Boys have filed a lawsuit against the U.S. government, claiming their constitutional rights were violated during the legal proceedings related to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The lawsuit, filed on Friday, includes plaintiffs Enrique Tarrio (former national chairman), Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, and Dominic Pezzola. These men are seeking both compensatory and punitive damages, including an unspecified monetary amount plus 6% interest, and $100 million in punitive damages with interest.
Claims of Rights Violations
The lawsuit alleges the men were arrested without sufficient probable cause and that federal agents “manufactured” false evidence against them. The plaintiffs further claim they were subjected to extended pretrial detention, with many months spent in solitary confinement.
According to the legal filing, “The Plaintiffs themselves did not obstruct the proceedings at the Capitol, destroy government property, resist arrest, conspire to impede the police, or participate in civil disorder, nor did they plan for or order anyone else to do so.”
Despite those assertions, four of the five men—Tarrio, Biggs, Rehl, and Nordean—were convicted of seditious conspiracy, one of the most serious charges stemming from the Capitol riot. They were also found guilty of additional federal crimes related to their roles in organizing and inciting the breach of the Capitol building.
Pezzola’s Distinct Conviction
Dominic Pezzola, the fifth plaintiff, was acquitted of the conspiracy charge. However, he was convicted of other offenses, including theft of government property and destruction of federal property. Video footage from the day of the attack showed Pezzola using a stolen police riot shield to smash a Capitol window, allowing rioters to enter the building.
Pardon and Commutation
Former President Donald Trump, who has remained a central figure in the fallout from the January 6 events, granted clemency to many individuals involved in the Capitol breach. According to the lawsuit, Tarrio received a full pardon. The other four men—Biggs, Rehl, Nordean, and Pezzola—had their sentences commuted.
The lawsuit suggests that despite these acts of clemency, the initial prosecution, treatment during detention, and the overall legal process were unjust and unconstitutional. It asserts that the government’s handling of the cases was politically motivated and intended to target individuals for their affiliations and beliefs rather than their actual conduct.
Ongoing Controversy
The Proud Boys have long been under scrutiny for their involvement in extremist political activities, and several of their members have been at the center of federal investigations. The January 6 riot led to over 1,500 arrests and prosecutions, many of which resulted in felony convictions. The federal government has maintained that these actions were necessary to uphold democratic institutions and respond to what has been widely described as an attempted insurrection.
As the legal battle continues, the lawsuit is expected to generate renewed debate over the boundaries of free speech, political affiliation, and the limits of government prosecution in national security-related cases. The Justice Department has not yet responded publicly to the lawsuit.
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