Joseph Biggs, a prominent leading member of the Proud Boys, has reached out to former President Donald Trump for a pardon following his conviction for seditious conspiracy related to the January 6 Capitol riots, as public speculation intensifies on how Trump will respond.
At a Glance
- Joseph Biggs seeks a pardon after receiving a 17-year prison sentence for his role in the January 6 Capitol attack.
- Convicted of seditious conspiracy, Biggs stands as the first among his group to formally request clemency.
- Attorney Norm Pattis argues Biggs’ imprisonment impinges on free speech and protest rights.
- Trump faces expectations to pardon January 6 defendants as he formulates a clemency policy.
Request for Clemency
Joseph Biggs, sentenced to 17 years in prison, has formally requested a presidential pardon from Donald Trump, hoping to mitigate his conviction for seditious conspiracy. Described as a leading figure during the Capitol riots, Biggs’s plea is among the first from those found guilty related to January 6. His attorney, Norm Pattis, emphasizes that extending a pardon could play a pivotal role in national healing by easing political tensions, akin to historical clemency following the Civil War.
Attorney Pattis asserts that Biggs is wrongly portrayed as a domestic terrorist, casting him as an unexpected victim of overzealous prosecution. Pattis states, “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.” Pattis argues that this could deter Americans from participating in protests.
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
Anticipated Wave of Pardon Requests
Biggs believes Trump’s support might extend toward issuing pardons for January 6 defendants, reinforcing confidence when he stated, “Oh, I know he’ll pardon us. I believe that with all my heart.” As anticipation builds, it is expected that others, including co-defendants and fellow Proud Boys leaders, will follow Biggs’s lead by seeking clemency. Trump’s past commitment to pardon Capitol defendants elevates expectations for a structured clemency approach during his potential return.
Many defendants have requested trial delays until after Trump’s anticipated inauguration, thus banking on a potential pardon. This approach has met resistance from the Justice Department, which counters these expectations as speculative. While envisioning his potential clemency, Biggs remains hopeful about distancing his future from past associations, reflecting on his aspiration to focus on family and disconnect from extremist affiliations.
Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs thinks Trump would pardon him if elected. He has good reason to be confident. https://t.co/bxtYLcHKup
— Philip Bump (@pbump) September 5, 2023
Trump’s Path Forward
As Biggs and his attorney posit the transformative potential of a pardon, Trump must navigate these turbulent waters, defining his stance on the pardoning of individuals linked to January 6. With various members like Zachary Rehl and Enrique Tarrio expressing similar hopes, a surge of pardon requests looms. Trump’s post-election promises suggest he would consider accommodating those convicted, emphasizing the need for a coherent administrative strategy to handle such demands.
This intricate situation challenges Trump’s policymakers to deliver decisive actions amidst calls for systematic approaches to pardon requests. Encouragement from advocates to forge a clear policy can ensure his administration is not overwhelmed. How this unfolds could signal Trump’s influence over reunifying a politically divided nation by mitigating repercussions for those involved with January 6.
