Justice Department Seeks to Vacate Convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers Leaders in January 6th Cases The U.S. Department of Justice has asked an appellate court to throw out the seditious conspiracy convictions of Proud Boys and Oath Keepers leaders involved in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack, signaling a potential dismissal of indictments. The United States Department of Justice has formally requested an appellate court to overturn the seditious conspiracy convictions of leaders from the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers. These convictions stemmed from their involvement in the January 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, an event orchestrated by supporters of then-President Donald Trump. In a filing submitted on Tuesday, the Department of Justice explicitly urged the appellate court to vacate these convictions and remand the cases back to the lower court for further proceedings. This move suggests a significant shift in prosecutorial strategy, with federal prosecutors indicating their intention to dismiss the indictments entirely should the appellate court agree to toss the convictions. The government's rationale, as articulated in the court filing signed by U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro, is consistent with its established practice of requesting the Supreme Court to vacate convictions when prosecutorial discretion deems dismissal to be in the interest of justice. Such motions, the filing notes, are routinely granted by the Supreme Court. The Associated Press reports that this request from the Justice Department encompasses Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, as well as members Kelly Meggs, Kenneth Harrelson, and Jessica Watkins. It also includes Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Notably, Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and other members of extremist groups had previously received pardons from President Donald Trump upon his commencement of a second term. Prior to this latest motion, Trump had already commuted the prison sentences of several leaders from both the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers in January of the previous year, offering clemency to those charged in connection with the January 6th assault. The current motion, if approved by the appellate court, would effectively expunge the convictions of all the defendants involved. The January 6th Capitol attack saw over 1,500 individuals charged in the months and years that followed the breach. Rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol while lawmakers were engaged in the certification of electoral votes, a process following former President Joe Biden's victory over Trump in the preceding November election. The events unfolded after a speech delivered by the then-outgoing President Trump, which preceded a march by protesters to the Capitol, culminating in the invasion of congressional halls. The ensuing chaos forced lawmakers to flee for their safety, while law enforcement agencies grappled to reestablish order. This violent confrontation resulted in injuries to more than 100 police officers. Throughout the four years that have elapsed, the Justice Department under the Biden administration has diligently pursued the identification and prosecution of many individuals implicated in the events of that day, an event that prosecutors at the time characterized as a direct assault on the foundations of American democracy