The Department of Justice has requested a federal appeals judge overturn convictions for members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol siege. Motions were filed by US attorney Jeanine Pirro to vacate convictions for individuals including Proud Boys leaders Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs, and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes.
The move aims to dismiss some remaining Capitol riot charges against a dozen former members of the right-wing groups. These individuals were previously found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other crimes connected to the attack on the Capitol.
Leaders of the far-right extremist groups had been sentenced to prison terms for their involvement in the events of January 6th. Last year, President Donald Trump commuted the prison sentences of twelve members of both organizations.
The Justice Department’s request seeks to finalize the impact of those commutations by overturning the convictions themselves.