A landmark decision in the US has sent shockwaves across the Atlantic, with significant implications for British travellers and businesses. A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump has reluctantly agreed to dismiss the seditious conspiracy convictions against leaders of the Proud Boys, sparking outrage among those who witnessed the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol.
The decision, issued by US District Judge Timothy Kelly, affects Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl, who were found guilty of serious crimes during the violent assault on Washington DC's iconic landmark. A fourth member, Dominic Pezzola, convicted of assaulting an officer and breaking a Capitol window, also saw his conviction dismissed.
The dismissal follows a motion from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) requesting the convictions be overturned, a request that was subsequently approved by an appeals court in May, returning the ruling to Judge Kelly. In a seven-page memorandum, Judge Kelly stated he was granting the motion as "it is hard to see how any other course... could make practical sense," given that denying it would not revive the convictions vacated by the Court of Appeals.
Despite granting the motion, Judge Kelly expressed significant reservations, noting that the request was "clearly based not on facts or the law, but on Trump's desire to excuse the violence of his supporters." He observed that "there is little mystery about why the Government is moving to dismiss this case, or whether dismissal is in fact what the Executive seeks," referencing President Trump’s well-known views on the prosecution of those involved in the Capitol attack and his intention to grant clemency.
Nordean, Biggs, and Rehl had been sentenced to long prison terms in 2023. Upon returning to office in 2025, former President Trump commuted their sentences as part of a sweeping order granting clemency to approximately 1,500 individuals charged with or convicted for participating in the Capitol attack. However, their convictions had remained on record until this recent dismissal.
Judge Kelly reiterated the gravity of the January 6 events, describing the attack as a "perilous event" and an "attack on people, including police officers, many of whom were injured." He further emphasised its nature as an assault on a coordinate branch of government – Congress – and on the Constitution's mechanism for the peaceful transfer of power, which he referred to as "nothing less than a miracle." He concluded by urging the American people, regardless of partisan preferences, to act together to preserve this constitutional framework for the nation’s future.