Jan. 6 Defendant Cuts Off Ankle Monitor in Celebration after Trump Pardon
A New Beginning
Amid cheers and applause, 44-year-old Gabriel Garcia cut off his ankle monitor as soon as President Donald Trump made good on his promise to pardon Jan. 6 defendants. Garcia is among the roughly 1,500 defendants who were granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon.
A Weight Lifted Off
The former Army captain says the weight of the charges against him affected everything from his roofing business to his freedom. But on Monday, he said he was free at last. “Four years of this on me, four years, and I’m just happy to be able to get out of the way and get back to a normal life,” he said.
A Sense of Relief
Garcia says he was just trying to peacefully protest at the Capitol on January 6, 2021. “I just walked in the Capitol to peacefully protest,” Garcia said. “I’m not charged with violence, I didn’t hurt anybody, I didn’t destroy property – so, therefore, yes, it’s very accurate what he did today in giving us that full pardon.”
President Trump’s Executive Order
President Donald Trump signed an executive order on his first day back in office pardoning about 1,500 defendants who were involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. The sweeping pardons included people who were convicted of assaulting law enforcement officers that day. Some of the violence was captured on video.
A Celebratory Gathering
Miami native and former national chairman of the Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy – the longest sentence handed down to a Jan. 6 defendant. His mother, Zuny Tarrio, posted on X on Monday: “TARRIO IS FREE!!!” Zuny Tarrio joined Gabriel and others at Las Vegas Cuban Cuisine in Doral to celebrate.
New Beginnings
As for Garcia, now that the pardons are official, there’s one thing he wants to do. “Believe it or not, helping out other fellow J6ers that are in prison, and I’m going to make sure they get out and get wherever they need to be tonight – doesn’t matter if I have to drive anywhere across the country,” he said. Garcia is planning on heading north Monday night to be there as one of his friends gets out of prison. He also plans on writing a book about everything he experienced these last four years.
Conclusion
The pardons granted by President Trump have brought a sense of relief and celebration to the Jan. 6 defendants. For Garcia and many others, it marks a new beginning, free from the weight of charges and the constraints of ankle monitors. As they move forward, they are committed to helping others and rebuilding their lives.
FAQs
* How many defendants were granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon?
+ Roughly 1,500 defendants were granted a full, complete, and unconditional pardon.
* Who was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy?
+ Enrique Tarrio, former national chairman of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years for seditious conspiracy.
* What does Gabriel Garcia plan to do now that his pardon is official?
+ Garcia plans to help other Jan. 6 defendants who are still in prison and write a book about his experiences.
