A federal judge dismissed with prejudice on Thursday the convictions of four Proud Boys leaders tied to the January 6, 2021 Capitol attack, ending one of the most prominent legal cases stemming from the riot.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump nominee, signed off on the Justice Department's motion to vacate the seditious conspiracy and related convictions of Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola, all originally found guilty in 2023. Kelly indicated reluctance, noting that the administration's views on January 6 are rooted in fiction but granting the request nonetheless.
The dismissal follows President Donald Trump's 2025 decision to commute the four men's sentences while leaving their convictions intact. The Justice Department, which sought dismissal in April 2026, framed the move as an end to what it called weaponized prosecutions under the prior administration. An appeals court approved the motion in May.