Former Proud Boy Leader, Who Was Facing Decades Behind Bars, Speaks Out After Trump J6 Pardon

Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader who was facing decades behind bars, spoke out on Tuesday, after President Donald Trump pardoned him and nearly all other J6 defendants hours into Trump’s second term.

Tarrio was prosecuted by the Biden DOJ and convicted of the rare and serious charge of seditious conspiracy for supposed J6 involvement, though he was not even in Washington, D.C., on the day of the breach. In 2023, Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison.

“As my first tweet I have to give thanks to the many people that made this happen, my life was given back to me after their persistence and resilience,” he posted on X. “They didn’t do it for any other reason than love for me and this amazing country we live in.”

“I want to thank God, because through Him ALL things are possible,” Tarrio said. “In Exodus Chapter 15, Verse 3, it describes God as a Man of War. He certainly showed that with us and through His guidance of President Trump. To Him all the glory!”

Tarrio was released from prison last week and met up with his family in Miami wearing a black “Make America Great Again” hat.

“I’m just happy that Trump kept his promises,” Tarrio told the press after he landed at Miami International Airport. “If we would have gotten a fair trial, I wouldn’t have been in a position where I needed a pardon.”

Since Tarrio was not in D.C. at the time of the breach, the government argued that he was a leader and not a foot soldier, calling him “intelligent, charming, creative, and articulate,” and claiming that he used those talents to “inflame and radicalize an untold number of followers.”

The government relied heavily on private communication from J6 defendants to try to make their case. Notably, the DOJ highlighted a document outlining a Capitol takeover that was sent to Tarrio on social media platform Telegram called “1776 Returns,” though Tarrio did not directly respond to the sent document and claims he never even saw it, let alone opened it.

Tarrio’s first post on X also thanked his family, specifically his mother Zuny Tarrio, whom he called a “warrior,” his fiancée, and many others, including fellow J6 defendants.

Tarrio called Zachary Rehl and Ethan Nordean his “brothers” and thanked them for standing “their ground in the face of decades in prison.” Rehl and Nordean were also convicted of the rare seditious conspiracy charge. Tarrio noted that Rehl missed the birth if his daughter “because of the wicked DOJ.” 

“A special place is reserved for Joe Biggs, who is currently STILL under restrictions because of a corrupt probation office that is defying the ORDERS from [Presidnet Donald Trump],” Tarrio said. Biggs, too, was convicted of sedition conspiracy. “He is not able to talk to us or use the internet. He cannot give interviews about his harrowing treatment at the hands of the [Federal Bureau of Prisons]. Joe is not new to being an American Hero. He is a two-time Purple Heart recipient and has served his country faithfully.”

Tarrio’s full post can be viewed, below:

Related: ‘Sick And F***ing Tired Of It’: MTG Wrecks Reporter Hounding Her Over J6 Pardons

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