Pardoned Jan. 6 demonstrators denied entry into CPAC

An outspoken member of President Donald Trump's staunchest supporters, Enrique Tarrio, was barred from attending the conservative political event CPAC this week along with other pardoned defendants from January 6.

Trump granted clemency to all nearly 1,600 individuals charged in relation to the Capitol attack just one month prior to the conference, as The Daily Mail reported.

In what they thought would be a welcoming setting, several of the defendants had saved up for airfare and hotel, arriving from locations all over the nation to celebrate their pardons.

However, security personnel promptly informed Tarrio that he would not be permitted to attend CPAC on Wednesday upon his arrival at the conference.

More Rejections

In the same vein, Dominic Pezzola, another Proud Boys member, was informed he could not participate.

There were riots in the convention center lobby and online when other pardoned rioters got into problems.

“I got an unconditional pardon from President Trump and my case was dismissed so I just don’t understand why CPAC would do this to me,” said Richard Barnett.

Most people remember Barnett for being photographed with his feet propped up on a desk in the office of former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and bringing an electric cattle prod into the Capitol: “It just doesn’t make any sense," he said about the rejection.

Leader Arrest

U.S. Capitol Police arrested Tarrio on Friday during a press conference with other members of the Proud Boys and Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers.

According to a USCP representative, Tarrio was taken into custody on charges of simple assault following an altercation in which he struck a counter-protester's phone and arm when she brought it near to his face.

After the counter-protester expressed her desire to press charges, Tarrio was taken into custody. The altercation happened on the street between Washington, DC's Union Station, and the United States Capitol.

“This is absolutely insane,” Proud Boy Joe Biggs told The Hill in a text, claiming local police let “agitators” into their path. “Tarrio did nothing wrong. This is a set-up.”