Five members of the far-right group, the Proud Boys, are suing the US government for $100 million (£74 million). They claim the prosecution over their involvement in the 2021 Capitol riots violated their constitutional rights.
Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, and Dominic Pezzola filed the lawsuit in a federal court in Orlando. Tarrio and the others held leadership roles in the group. Pezzola also took part in the events at the Capitol.
They argue that law enforcement arrested them without proper cause. They also accuse government agents of creating false evidence and subjecting them to lengthy pretrial detention, often in solitary confinement.
At a press conference, Tarrio said the lawsuit aims to “bring back law and order.” He described their treatment as that of “hostages,” echoing a term President Donald Trump has used for those jailed after the riots.
Convictions and presidential pardons
Courts found Tarrio, Biggs, Rehl, and Nordean guilty of seditious conspiracy and related offences. Pezzola received a sentence for using a stolen police riot shield to break a Capitol window. The group received prison terms between 10 and 22 years.
However, they regained freedom after Donald Trump returned to office earlier this year. He pardoned nearly all of the 1,500 individuals involved in the Capitol breach.
Stewart Rhodes, who founded the Oath Keepers militia, also faced conviction for seditious conspiracy. He began serving an 18-year sentence but later walked free. Rhodes later told Sky News his trial was a “show trial.”
The lawsuit states that the five men did not damage property, resist arrest, or interfere with police. They also deny obstructing Congress or instructing others to do so. Their legal action aims to address what they describe as repeated violations of their constitutional rights.
Court jails former police officer in related case
On the same day, a court sentenced Shane Lamond, a former Washington, DC police lieutenant, to 18 months in prison. Prosecutors said he leaked confidential information to Tarrio and later lied about it.
Lamond denied sharing details of an investigation into Tarrio. Officials launched the inquiry after Tarrio burned a Black Lives Matter banner in December 2020. He later admitted stealing it from a church in Washington, DC.
Tarrio attended Lamond’s sentencing and urged President Trump to pardon the former officer.
