The leaders of the rebellion in the Capitol, Tario and Rhodes, are released from prison

Former Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tario and Oath Keepers founder Stuart Rhodes were released from prison when President Donald Trump freed more than 1,500 people accused of rioting at the US Capitol four years ago.

Less than 24 hours after Trump pardoned or commuted the sentences of those who tried to forcefully overturn the 2020 election, two of the most prominent leaders of the riots have left prison. Trump has also dismissed charges against those charged, but not yet tried, over the riots.

“My son, Enrique Tario, is now officially released!” Zuny Tarrio posted on X.

Rhodes, who was not pardoned, but the sentence was commuted, is in prison awaiting the release of the defendants.

Rhodes, a former US Army paratrooper and Yale-educated lawyer, was accused of leading a contingent of his Oath members to Washington.

Although Rhodes was not inside the Capitol, he controlled his members from the outside and was sentenced in 2023 to 18 years in prison.

Tario was found guilty of seditious conspiracy – a rarely used charge of plotting to overthrow the government – in connection with the riots. He was not in Washington at the time of the riots, but directed other participants.

He received 22 years in prison, one of the longest.

Amid the pardons and commutations, Trump also signed an executive order ordering the Justice Department to drop all pending cases against suspects accused of rioting.

Lead counsel for these defendants is Edward R. Martin – has also been named acting US attorney in Washington, D.C., a sign of the depth of Trump’s desire to end the years-long prosecution. The Washington office handled cases related to January 6.

Democrats denounced the release of more than 1,000 people as an attempt to rewrite history and sanitize the violence of the riots, which led to many deaths.

Trump described the day as “peaceful” and the jailed or imprisoned rioters as “hostages.”