Proud Boys Sue DOJ, FBI After Trump Pardons

Five leaders of the Proud Boys—Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola—have filed a $100 million lawsuit against the U.S. government, FBI, and Department of Justice, alleging political persecution and constitutional violations in their January 6 Capitol attack prosecutions. The suit follows President Trump's sweeping pardons and commutations for nearly all Jan. 6 defendants upon his 2025 return to office, which also concluded the largest FBI investigation related to the event. Plaintiffs accuse authorities of evidence tampering, witness intimidation, and targeting Trump allies to suppress opposition. The Department of Justice has not commented on the case, which seeks to revisit legal issues already addressed in previous trials. Historians and legal experts warn that a settlement could be seen as endorsing political violence and reversing prior legal findings. The legal action underscores ongoing efforts by Jan. 6 participants to reshape the public narrative, supported by executive clemency and Trump's public backing.