FILE - Proud Boys member Zachary Rehl walks toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, in support of President Donald Trump on Jan. 6, 2021. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)
On his first day back in office, President Donald Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in connection to the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a group that includes more than 100 Pennsylvanians.
Donald Trump began erasing Joe Biden’s legacy immediately after taking office as the nation’s 47th president, pardoning nearly all of his supporters who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.
Trump has pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of all of the 1,500-plus people charged with crimes in connection with the unprecedented assault on the seat of American democracy which left more than 100 police officers injured as the angry mob of Trump supporters — some armed with poles, bats and bear spray — overwhelmed law enforcement, shattered windows and sent lawmakers and aides running into hiding.
Zachary Rehl, the former leader of the Philadelphia chapter of the Proud Boys, is among one of the more high-profile pardons. Rehl was serving a 15-year term, one of the longest sentences handed down in connection with the attack.
He was seen on video spraying a chemical irritant at law enforcement officers outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, but he repeatedly lied about that assault while he testified at his trial, said prosecutor Erik Kenerson. “He tried to craft a narrative to fit the evidence and he was caught,” Kenerson said.
Rehl also led at least three other men into the Capitol and into a senator’s office, where he smoked and posed for pictures while flashing the Proud Boys’ hand gesture, prosecutors said in court documents.
At his sentencing in 2023, Rehl sobbed as he told the judge he deeply regretted being at the Capitol that day. “I’m done with all of it, done peddling lies for other people who don’t care about me,” Rehl said. “Politicians started spreading lies about the election, and I fell for it hook, line and sinker.”
To date, more than 100 Pennsylvanians have been charged in connection to the Jan. 6 attack. Of that group, 72 Pennsylvanians have been sentenced, with others still awaiting trial. Three died (two by suicide) while awaiting sentencing.
Information from the Associated Press was used in this story.
Author
Support Our Cause
Thank you for taking the time to read our work. Before you go, we hope you'll consider supporting our values-driven journalism, which has always strived to make clear what's really at stake for Pennsylvanians and our future.
Since day one, our goal here at The Keystone has always been to empower people across the commonwealth with fact-based news and information. We believe that when people are armed with knowledge about what's happening in their local, state, and federal governments—including who is working on their behalf and who is actively trying to block efforts aimed at improving the daily lives of Pennsylvania families—they will be inspired to become civically engaged.
Facing first tragedy of his presidency, Trump blames DEI, Obama for plane crash
Sixty-seven people are presumed to be dead after a passenger plane collided Wednesday night with a US Army helicopter midair while approaching...
Pa. residents lose access to Medicaid, CareerLink and Head Start portal amid Trump chaos
Gov. Josh Shapiro called President Donald Trump’s memo freezing federal spending "worrisome" after creating chaos for state and local officials....
Trump takes on the US Constitution with day one executive orders
Trump issued an executive order to end birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, doubled down on fossil fuels that drive...
Here’s what Trump promised to do on ‘Day One.’ Now that he and Republicans have total power in DC, will he?
The president-elect should be able to, in theory, implement his “Day One” plans. The big question is – will he actually do what he’s proposed? Or...
Trump is widely expected to prematurely declare victory regardless of the vote count
Political experts and campaign officials alike are expecting Donald Trump to declare victory on Tuesday night before the final results will roll in....
