DOJ Moves to Overturn Jan 6 Convictions Following Trump Directive

The Justice Department initiated steps on Tuesday to overturn the convictions of several prominent figures tied to the January 6th incident at the Capitol.

Documents filed with the Court of Appeals by the federal government aim to nullify the criminal convictions of certain individuals affiliated with the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys, many of whom faced charges of seditious conspiracy.

Federal prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Washington, D.C., stated in one of the submissions, “The Executive Branch believes it serves justice better not to pursue further prosecution in this case or other similar cases.”

This action aligns with a presidential decree issued on January 20, 2025, when President Donald Trump commuted the sentences of these individuals to “time served,” facilitating their release without additional imprisonment.

Supporters of Trump scale the western wall of the U.S. Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana, File)

Tuesday’s filings — which mark an attempt to clear some of the final charges still standing in the probe — also asked to dismiss the indictments “with prejudice,” meaning the charges would be permanently dismissed and could not be brought again by the government. 

At least eight primary defendants were named in two similar appeals filed Tuesday.  

A major high-profile defendant referenced in the filings is Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, whom prosecutors previously said plotted to “oppose by force the lawful transfer of presidential power” when Trump lost the 2020 election. Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison for seditious conspiracy and other charges.

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, speaks during a rally outside the White House in Washington, June 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

Other mentioned Oath Keepers members include Kelly Meggs, the leader of the Florida chapter of the organization, as well as Kenneth Harrelson and Jessica Watkins.

Among the Proud Boys members mentioned, Ethan Nordean, one of the group’s leaders, was sentenced to 18 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy alongside Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, who are also named.

The Justice Department is also seeking to vacate the conviction of Proud Boys member Dominic Pezzola, who was caught on camera smashing a Capitol window with a riot shield. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison.

From left to right are Stewart Rhodes, former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Friday, Feb. 21, 2025. (Sarah L. Voisin/The Washington Post via Getty Images)

Officials noted that they are also filing similar motions for other related defendants in related cases.

Hours after returning to office in January, Trump either pardoned or commuted the sentences of nearly all individuals convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol breach. More than 1,500 people were arrested in connection with the protest.