Tarrio and Rhodes Discuss January 6 and Their Future Plans

In his first interview following his release from prison, Enrique Tarrio expressed his gratitude to Donald Trump for pardoning him for his involvement in the January 6 riot, claiming it "literally gave me my life back".

Now free, the Proud Boys leader has voiced his desire for retribution, stating to Alex Jones of Info Wars, "The people who did this, they need to feel the heat, they need to be put behind bars, and they need to be prosecuted."

Tarrio emphasised that "Success is going to be retribution," and insisted on vigorous efforts to ensure the next four years would set them up for the next century.

Since the release of leaders from far-right militia groups, they are regrouping and strategising to regain momentum now that Trump is back in office, encouraged by the mass pardons for insurrectionists.

Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, was spotted at the US Capitol this week, dining at a Dunkin inside the Longworth House office building. Reports confirm he "met with at least one lawmaker during his visit and chatted with others" while on Capitol Hill.

Rhodes gave statements outside the DC jail, claiming he wants prosecutors to stand trial for their "crimes". Although not pardoned, his sentence was commuted, allowing his early release, and he continues to push for a full pardon.

He suggested that January 6 should be memorialised as "patriots day", expressing no regret for his actions, arguing that his members were entrapped and that their reactions to police force were justified. "We were there to protect Trump supporters from Antifa," he stated in a video following his release.

Upon his sentencing in 2023, the presiding judge marked his intelligence and charisma as dangerous traits that could pose risks upon release.

Tarrio and Rhodes received some of the most prolonged sentences related to the January 6 events: 22 years for Tarrio and 18 years for Rhodes, both charged with seditious conspiracy over their roles in orchestrating the attack.

The Proud Boys and Oath Keepers were implicated in storming the Capitol on January 6, with some members engaging in violent acts. Prosecutors described the Oath Keepers as having "plotted for months to violently disrupt the peaceful transfer of power" and noted that the Proud Boys were at the forefront of the Capitol breaches.

According to federal prosecutors at the time of Tarrio's sentencing, "No organization put more boots on the ground at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, than the Proud Boys." They were reportedly leading efforts to storm the seat of government.

The Global Project Against Hate and Extremism has been monitoring the online activities of the Proud Boys post-Trump's pardons, observing the group fantasising about possibly being "deputised as ICE under Trump's second term" to support Trump's deportation agenda and encouraging members to report individuals potentially residing in the country illegally.

Tarrio, often labelled as a "former" or "ex" leader by the media, clarified that this portrayal is inaccurate, urging, "I suggest that the media should stop calling me ex-Proud Boy leader."

A procession of Proud Boys conducted a march in Washington on inauguration day, celebrating Trump's victory and making their presence known with chants against Joe Biden and Antifa while calling for the release of fellow members.

The efforts to reshape the narrative surrounding January 6 and retaliate against those involved in investigating it are expected to persist during Trump's second term. House Speaker Mike Johnson has announced the formation of a new select subcommittee to investigate all events leading up to and following January 6.

Meanwhile, the FBI's most wanted list webpage for the January 6 events has been redirected to the main FBI website. Trump has also instructed the justice department to halt ongoing cases regarding the riot.

Some police officers who responded to the Capitol on January 6 have publicly condemned Trump's decisions regarding pardons and commutations, particularly for those convicted of violence against law enforcement. Officers, including some who provided testimony in January 6 cases, have expressed fears for their safety now that the insurrectionists are back out in the community.

Retired officer Michael Fanone, who was assaulted on January 6, delivered a pointed message to Rhodes in a live CNN interview: "This is what I say to Stewart Rhodes - go fuck yourself."