Capitol Rioter Pleads for Trump Pardon While Unity Talk Swirls

November 16, 2024

Prominent Proud Boys leader Joseph Biggs, recently convicted for his role in the Capitol riot, seeks a pardon from President-elect Donald J. Trump.

At a Glance

Joseph Biggs is serving a 17-year sentence for seditious conspiracy.
Norm Pattis, Biggs’s attorney, argues a pardon could aid national unity.
Biggs is the first convicted Proud Boys member to request clemency.
Trump faces pressure to develop a strategy for pardon requests.

Joseph Biggs’s Conviction

Joseph Biggs, a key organizer of the January 6 Capitol riot, received a 17-year prison sentence on charges of seditious conspiracy. This conviction marks one of the most significant charges levied against participants in the events of January 6. As hopes for clemency from President-elect Donald Trump rise among January 6 defendants, Biggs has taken the initiative to formally request a pardon. He is the first member of the Proud Boys convicted in relation to the attack to do so.

Biggs’s attorney, Norm Pattis, views the potential pardon as crucial not only for his client but for national healing. By comparing the situation to post-Civil War amnesties, Pattis has framed Biggs’s appeal as an opportunity for Trump to foster national unification. Pattis argues that Biggs’s punishment serves as a warning against free speech and protest.

Proud Boys Leader Convicted of Sedition for Role in Jan. 6 Attack Asks Trump for Pardon
Other high-ranking members of the extremist organization have signaled they intend to seek pardons, too. https://t.co/8nfxwkdfJI

— Stuart Falk (@stufalk) November 14, 2024

National Unification Debate

As Trump transitions back to office, he faces a significant number of pardon requests from individuals associated with the Capitol attack. Many defendants have requested to delay their hearings until after the inauguration, banking on possible clemencies. However, the Justice Department stands opposed to these delays, viewing expectations of a pardon as speculative.

“The notion that Mr. Biggs is some sort of domestic terrorist that should sit behind bars for 17 years is a chilling message to everyone, And that is you ought not to write patriotic hyperbole and then attend a protest, because if you do, an ambitious prosecutor is going to turn your words into circumstantial evidence of intent to commit a crime. And that’s just un-American.” – Norm Pattis

The pressure builds on Trump to systematize his approach to these pardon requests. Supporters of the rioters urge a strategic approach to prevent administrative overload. Trump has not yet issued a formal policy on clemency, despite assurances of leniency towards January 6 defendants.

Just in: Lawyers for Joe Biggs, the Proud Boys leader sentenced to 17 years in prison on a seditious conspiracy conviction stemming from the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, has formally asked Trump for a pardon. pic.twitter.com/yLcwI96ZL2

— Alan Feuer (@alanfeuer) November 13, 2024

Biggs’s Perspective and Future

At his sentencing, Biggs expressed remorse and a desire to turn his focus to family, distancing himself from radical groups. His request for a pardon is grounded in a belief in Trump’s support for January 6 defendants. Biggs stands hopeful about receiving clemency under Trump’s administration, reinforcing his confidence among his peers.

“Oh, I know he’ll pardon us. I believe that with all my heart. You know, the thing is, is hopefully getting him, you know, for him to be able to get into the position where he can at least be, I think, on the ballot to run right ’cause … but I do believe that Donald J. Trump will pardon us and he should. We didn’t do anything. You know, we’re his supporters. We went there like he asked.” – Joseph Biggs

Biggs and co-defendant Zachary Rehl, who received a 15-year sentence, were central figures in the Capitol breach. Their actions during January 6 led to significant legal consequences. Other high-ranking Proud Boys members, including Enrique Tarrio, also plan to pursue pardons.