Convicted Proud Boys Sue U.S. Government Over Jan. 6 Prosecutions, Claim Civil Rights Violations

In a stunning and controversial legal move, five convicted members of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys have filed a federal lawsuit against the United States government and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), alleging that their civil rights were violated during the investigation and prosecution of the January 6, 2021 Capitol riot.

The lawsuit, filed Friday in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses federal agents of “targeted political persecution, unlawful surveillance, and malicious prosecution.” It also claims that key evidence used in the trials was obtained without proper warrants and that the defendants were denied fair trials due to “prejudicial media narratives” and “a politically motivated Justice Department.”

The plaintiffs include Enrique Tarrio, the former national chairman of the group, and four other high-profile Proud Boys members all currently serving prison sentences ranging from 10 to 22 years. Tarrio, who was sentenced to 22 years in 2023, is considered the symbolic head of the movement despite not being physically present at the Capitol on Jan. 6.

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In their 112-page complaint, the men argue that:

The FBI infiltrated their organization without cause and used planted informants to fabricate conspiracy charges.

• They were targeted not for criminal behavior, but for their political beliefs and associations.

• The government withheld exculpatory evidence during trial proceedings.

• Harsh sentencing was “designed to set an example” rather than deliver justice. without fair treatment.”

Federal officials have dismissed the lawsuit as baseless. A Department of Justice spokesperson called the suit “a frivolous and desperate attempt to rewrite history.”

“The Department stands by every indictment, every conviction, and every sentence handed down,” the spokesperson said. “These cases were built on extensive video evidence, coordinated planning documentation, and courtroom admissions of guilt.”

The DOJ has also hinted that the filing could be a strategy to stir political sympathy ahead of the 2026 midterms, where far-right figures are expected to campaign heavily on “government overreach” narratives.

The Proud Boys, once considered a fringe group, became national news following their central role in the January 6 insurrection. Though labeled a terrorist organization in several countries, the group continues to enjoy quiet support in some conservative circles.

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Several Republican lawmakers including Representatives Matt Gaetz (FL) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (GA) have voiced support for the lawsuit, echoing claims of “weaponized justice” and “deep state abuse.”

“This lawsuit may be the key to exposing everything Americans weren’t told about January 6,” said Greene during a Friday night town hall.

Meanwhile, civil rights groups and legal scholars warn that the case could reopen painful divisions in an already fractured nation. “This isn’t about justice it’s about rewriting one of the darkest chapters in U.S. democratic history,” said Professor Ava Reynolds of Georgetown Law.

The case is expected to move slowly, with initial hearings set for late summer. Legal analysts say it’s unlikely the plaintiffs will succeed, but warn that the court proceedings may be used as a political tool to re-energize extremist networks.

For now, the lawsuit has reignited debate over the long shadow of January 6 and whether justice, accountability, or propaganda will ultimately prevail.