Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, asks Trump for forgiveness

The former leader of the Proud Boys, a group prosecutors believe was instrumental in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, is asking President-elect Donald Trump for forgiveness, according to a letter from his lawyer on Monday. .

Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years behind bars for his role in helping round up members of the far-right group to come to Washington before Jan. 6, prosecutors say, with the goal of stopping the peaceful transition of power. which he supervised. their movements and incited them as they attacked the Capitol, and continued to celebrate their actions in the days after the insurrection.

“Henry ‘Enrique’ Tarrio was portrayed throughout the government’s case as a right-wing extremist who promoted a neo-fascist militant organization,” writes Tarrio’s attorney, Nayib Hassan, in a letter obtained by ABC News. “Henry is nothing more than a proud American who believes in true conservative values.”

His lawyer writes that Tarrio is a “young man” with a “future contender” and that he wasn’t even in Washington, DC on January 6.

During his sentencing, prosecutors pointed to a nine-page strategic plan to “storm” government buildings in Washington on Jan. 6 that was found in Tarrio’s possession after the riot, as well as violent rhetoric they say he routinely used in messages with other members. of the group about what they would do if Congress moved forward with certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Tarrio, his attorney argues, has been transferred from several private and federal prisons and is often sent to the Special Housing Unit, which only allows someone out of their cell once a day.

“Granting this pardon would allow Henry to reintegrate into a family that greatly supports him and would further demonstrate his commitment to lawful, peaceful and constructive contributions,” according to the letter. “It would also allow him to fully support his family and contribute significantly to the community.”

During his sentencing hearing in September 2023, Tarrio apologized profusely for his actions and praised members of law enforcement who he said had been unfairly mistreated and defamed following the January 6 attack, which he called ” national shame”.

“I’ll have to live with that shame and disappointment for the rest of my life,” Tarrio said. “We invoked 1776 and the Constitution of the United States and that was very wrong. That was a perversion. The events of January 6th are something that should never be celebrated.”