Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons free several Floridians jailed for Capitol riot

Enrique Tarrio. Image via AP.

Perhaps Donald Trump’s most controversial first-day executive order included pardoning and commuting sentences for several people involved in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot that aimed to disrupt the certification of President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory.

Many of those benefitting hail from Florida.

Trump commuted the sentences of several members of Florida’s chapter of the Oath Keepers: Kelly Meggs, Joseph Hackett, Kenneth Harrelson and David Moerschel. Meggs, head of the Florida chapter, had been sentenced to 12 years in prison on charges of seditious conspiracy, according to the Military Times.

Prosecutors said Meggs, from Dunnellon, worked closely with Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes to plan the Capitol attack. They also say Meggs organized militia members from around the country to attend the riot. Rhodes himself had his 18-year sentence commuted by Trump.

The Southern Poverty Law Center lists the Oath Keepers as an extremist far-right group that recruits former military and police to anti-government causes.

The Oath Keepers leaders involved in the Capitol riot received some of the longest sentences of anyone criminally charged in relation to the Jan. 6 events. Other militia members also received sentences for their participation. Harrelson, of Titusville, was sentenced to four years while Hackett, of Sarasota, and Moerschel, of Punta Gorda, earned three-year sentences for their involvement. All had their sentences commuted.

Joseph Biggs, a member of the Proud Boys from Ormond Beach, had a 17-year sentence commuted by Trump. Prosecutors said Biggs led a group of rioters chanting, “Whose house? Our house,” to tear down fencing and burst through barricades at the Capitol. Biggs famously bragged on video: “We’ve gone through every barricade thus far.”

The Justice Department said Biggs and Zachary Rehl, a Pennsylvania man who also had his sentence commuted by Trump, were part of a division of Proud Boys called the Ministry of Self Defense.

Others arrested and sentenced after the violence on Jan. 6, 2021 also appear to be benefiting from sweeping pardons.

Trump has also said his administration will not pursue any more ongoing cases related to the attack.

Enrique Tarrio, a former Proud Boys national Chair, was released from prison on Tuesday despite a 22-year prison sentence. Attorneys for Tarrio told The Associated Press he was released hours after Trump signed the pardon.