According to Wionews, Joe Biggs, a convicted member of the Proud Boys, a group often described as neo-fascist by US media, has claimed that he believes former President Donald Trump will pardon him in 2024. Biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison for his involvement in the January 6 US Capitol riots and was convicted of seditious conspiracy earlier in the year. During his trial, Biggs’s defense argued that Donald Trump was partly responsible for the events of the riot.
After his sentencing, Biggs made a phone call from jail to conspiracy theory show host Alex Jones, where he alleged that he was receiving poor-quality food in prison and appealed to his supporters for financial assistance, as his military pension had been suspended due to his conviction. Biggs stated that he firmly believed Trump would pardon him, although it should be noted that Trump has not made any specific statements regarding pardoning Biggs. However, during a CNN town hall, Trump did discuss the possibility of pardoning a “large portion” of the Capitol riot defendants.
Before his sentencing, Joe Biggs admitted in court that he had “messed up” and apologized for his rhetoric, blaming his state of mind at the time of the incident. He asserted that he was not a terrorist and claimed not to harbor hatred in his heart.
Biggs received a sentence with a terrorism enhancement due to his actions on January 6, 2021, which included tearing down a fence separating rioters from the police. The judge considered this act a deliberate and significant action that contributed to the chaos and destruction during the events of that day.
In May, the leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was found guilty of various charges, including seditious conspiracy, conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, conspiracy to use force, intimidation, or threats against US officers, interference with law enforcement during civil disorder, and destruction of government property. Other Proud Boys leaders, including Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola, also faced felony charges, although Pezzola did not face the seditious conspiracy charge.
