A federal judge has dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against four members of the Proud Boys after the Trump administration's Justice Department requested that the convictions be vacated. The ruling marks a significant legal shift in one of the most closely watched prosecutions stemming from the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, who was appointed by President Donald Trump, said the court had no legal authority to require the executive branch to continue pursuing the case. While approving the dismissal, Judge Kelly emphasized that the decision should not be interpreted as an endorsement of the administration's position.

The case involved Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean, Biggs, and Rehl were convicted in 2023 of seditious conspiracy and several related offenses, while Pezzola was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but found guilty on other January 6-related charges.

President Trump had previously granted clemency to more than 1,000 individuals convicted in connection with the Capitol riot through an executive order issued after returning to office. However, the convictions of the four Proud Boys members initially remained in place until the Justice Department, led by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche, sought to vacate them in April.

Judge Kelly acknowledged that the administration had chosen to handle the case in line with its broader approach to January 6 prosecutions, regardless of the severity of the charges or when the case was originally filed. He stressed that decisions regarding prosecutions ultimately rest with the executive branch rather than the judiciary.

Following the ruling, Zachary Rehl welcomed the dismissal on social media, saying the legal battle had finally come to an end. Former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, who had previously received a presidential pardon, also celebrated the decision online.

Despite dismissing the case, Judge Kelly described the January 6 attack as a serious assault on police officers, Congress, and the constitutional process governing the peaceful transfer of presidential power. In his closing remarks, he warned that preserving America's democratic institutions requires continued public commitment to the Constitution and the rule of law.