Freedom for the Faithless

Trump’s Pardons for Traitors, Hate-Mongers, and Criminals Expose His True Allegiance

January 21, 2025, wasn’t just another day in America—it was a parade of impunity, a dark day for justice, and a masterclass in moral abdication. On his first full day back in office, Donald Trump signed an astonishing number of pardons, granting clemency to over 1,500 individuals. But these weren’t just any individuals. They were some of the most egregious, dangerous, and destructive offenders of our time. Each pardon speaks volumes about Trump, his priorities, and the people who continue to support him.

Let’s take a closer look at the rogues’ gallery of those pardoned and what it says about the moral bankruptcy at the heart of this decision.

Enrique Tarrio: The Puppet Master of Chaos

Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, wasn’t just another face in the mob on January 6th—he was the mastermind pulling the strings from behind the scenes. As federal prosecutors laid out in damning detail during his trial, Tarrio played a pivotal role in organizing the violent insurrection that shook the foundations of American democracy. He wasn’t even physically present at the Capitol that day—he was sitting comfortably in a hotel room in Baltimore, orchestrating the chaos like a general commanding an army of thugs.

What was Tarrio convicted of? Seditious conspiracy—the highest charge brought against anyone involved in the insurrection. The evidence against him was overwhelming. Prosecutors presented encrypted text messages in which Tarrio referred to the Capitol as “the Winter Palace,” a chilling reference to the Russian Revolution, signaling his intent to topple the government. He shared blueprints for attacking the Capitol and communicated in real-time with his foot soldiers as they breached barriers, attacked police officers, and smashed through windows.

One of the most damning pieces of evidence was the “1776 Returns” document, a battle plan Tarrio helped draft that outlined a coordinated effort to occupy key government buildings, including the Capitol. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment riot—it was a premeditated attack on the heart of American democracy, with Tarrio as its architect.

And what did this "patriot" do as his followers swarmed the Capitol, assaulting police officers and hunting lawmakers? He celebrated. Tarrio sent messages of approval, including one that read, “Make no mistake… we did this.” Did that sound like a man caught up in the heat of the moment? No. That was a man who planned, executed, and reveled in an act of treason.

A Guilty Verdict, Beyond a Doubt

The evidence against Tarrio was as clear as the chaos on January 6th. His defense team’s attempts to downplay his involvement fell flat in the face of mountains of evidence, including the fact that he was in contact with other rioters throughout the day. Witnesses testified to his leadership role, pointing to him as the ringleader of a calculated attack on democracy.

Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison, the longest sentence handed down to any January 6th participant. The judge made it clear: Tarrio wasn’t just a participant; he was the "ultimate leader" who used his platform to mobilize a dangerous and destructive mob. His actions led directly to injuries, deaths, and the desecration of the U.S. Capitol.

Trump’s Pardon: A Slap in the Face to Democracy

And yet, just over a year into his sentence, Tarrio walked free. Why? Because Donald Trump decided that this man—a convicted seditionist, a man who plotted to overthrow the government—deserved a second chance. No apologies, no remorse, no acknowledgment of the devastation he caused. Just a full pardon, wiping his record clean.

Is This the Kind of Person Who Deserves a Pardon?

Let’s not mince words: Enrique Tarrio is a traitor to this country. He plotted, coordinated, and celebrated an attack on the very principles that hold America together. And Donald Trump set him free.

What does it say about a president who would pardon a man like Tarrio? What does it say about the voters who support a president who sees no problem with releasing a man who orchestrated an insurrection? If you stand with Trump, you stand with Tarrio. Is this who you are?

But Tarrio wasn’t acting alone. While he commanded his Proud Boys from a distance, another man worked to turn his militia into an armed vanguard for insurrection. Enter Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers and a man whose ideological war against democracy reached its horrifying climax on January 6th.

Stewart Rhodes: The Militia Commander Who Declared War on Democracy

Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers militia, wasn’t just another extremist caught up in the frenzy of January 6th—he was its ideological architect. Convicted of seditious conspiracy, Rhodes orchestrated a plan to violently stop the peaceful transfer of power, turning his militia into an armed vanguard of anti-democratic chaos. His conviction, like Tarrio’s, wasn’t built on speculation but on a mountain of evidence that revealed him as one of the most dangerous threats to American democracy in modern history.

What kind of man is Stewart Rhodes? A former Yale Law graduate, Rhodes used his legal knowledge not to uphold the Constitution but to dismantle it. He founded the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia group, under the pretense of protecting liberty. But in reality, it became a haven for extremists and conspiracy theorists who believed violence was the answer to their grievances. And on January 6th, Rhodes proved just how far he was willing to take that belief.

The Evidence Against Him

Prosecutors painted a vivid and horrifying picture of Rhodes’ actions leading up to January 6th. Court records revealed encrypted communications where Rhodes and his associates planned for an armed “civil war” if Trump was not reinstated as president. He coordinated travel for his followers to Washington, D.C., stockpiling weapons in nearby hotels as part of a so-called “Quick Reaction Force” ready to storm the Capitol if things didn’t go their way.

On January 6th, as the mob breached the Capitol, Rhodes stood back, watching and communicating with his followers. He didn’t have to break down doors himself; he had trained others to do it for him. Witnesses testified that Rhodes described the attack as a necessary action to "prevent the republic from being overthrown"—a bitter irony given that he was the one attacking the republic.

The jury found Rhodes guilty of seditious conspiracy after hearing damning testimony and seeing messages that left no doubt about his intentions. “We aren’t getting through this without a civil war,” Rhodes wrote in one text message, adding, “Prepare your mind, body, and spirit.”

22 Years for Treasonous Ambition

Rhodes was sentenced to 18 years in prison, the first Oath Keeper leader to be held accountable for orchestrating the January 6th attack. The judge described his actions as a clear and present danger to the United States, stating that Rhodes remains a threat to this country’s democratic institutions.

But like Tarrio, Rhodes is now a free man, thanks to Donald Trump’s pardon.

Trump’s Pardon: An Endorsement of Insurrection

What does it say about a leader who pardons someone who planned an armed assault on the government? Rhodes wasn’t a misguided protestor; he was a calculating tactician who built his career on undermining democracy. By pardoning him, Trump has sent a chilling message: If you’re on his side, there are no consequences, no matter how dangerous or violent your actions.

Is This the Kind of Person Who Deserves a Pardon?

Stewart Rhodes chose to turn his back on the very Constitution he claimed to defend, weaponizing his followers to attack the government. His pardon is a slap in the face to every law-abiding citizen and a green light for future extremists.

What does it say about a president who would pardon a man like Rhodes? And what does it say about the voters who support such a president? If you stand with Trump, you stand with Rhodes. Is this who you are?

The rot doesn’t stop with January 6th. Trump’s pardons extended far beyond the Capitol insurrection, reaching into the dark underbelly of the internet. Ross Ulbricht, the mastermind of the Silk Road, is perhaps the most shocking example of Trump’s willingness to reward greed and destruction.

Ross Ulbricht: The Kingpin of the Dark Web

Ross Ulbricht wasn’t just a tech-savvy entrepreneur dabbling in gray areas—he was the architect of one of the most notorious criminal enterprises in modern history. As the mastermind behind Silk Road, the dark web’s first major black market, Ulbricht turned the anonymity of the internet into a global hub for illegal activity. Drugs, forged documents, hacking tools, and even rumored violent services were all a click away on his platform, shielded by cryptocurrencies and Tor networks.

Ulbricht marketed himself as a libertarian idealist, claiming Silk Road was about freedom from government oversight. But the truth revealed in court painted a much darker picture: a man consumed by greed, willing to let others suffer while he profited handsomely. In 2015, he was convicted on charges including conspiracy to commit drug trafficking, money laundering, and computer hacking. He was sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years—a sentence that reflected the immense harm caused by his actions.

The Evidence Against Him

The case against Ulbricht was ironclad. Federal agents uncovered a treasure trove of evidence, including the digital keys linking him to the online pseudonym "Dread Pirate Roberts" and records of his direct involvement in running Silk Road. Investigators found a journal on his laptop, meticulously detailing the creation and operation of the site. This wasn’t a rogue operation run by anonymous users—Ulbricht was the center of it all.

The platform facilitated the sale of over $1.2 billion in illegal goods, with Ulbricht personally pocketing $13 million in commissions. The trial also revealed a chilling detail: Ulbricht had allegedly solicited multiple murder-for-hire contracts to eliminate threats to his empire. Though those charges weren’t pursued in court, the evidence left no doubt about his willingness to resort to violence.

Ulbricht’s Legacy: Lives Ruined

The harm caused by Silk Road was immeasurable. It created a marketplace where synthetic opioids and other deadly substances could be distributed globally with no accountability. Families were destroyed, lives were lost, and communities were left to grapple with the fallout of an unprecedented online drug epidemic. Yet Ulbricht sat at the center, detached from the human toll, treating the suffering of others as a line on a profit-and-loss sheet.

Trump’s Pardon: A Gift to Criminal Enterprise

And yet, on January 21, 2025, Donald Trump erased it all. Ulbricht walked out of federal prison a free man, thanks to a full and unconditional pardon. The justification? Trump’s alliance with libertarian factions who championed Ulbricht’s case as an example of government overreach. But what does it say about a leader who sees a man like Ulbricht—someone who profited off of death and despair—as worthy of a second chance?

Is This the Kind of Person Who Deserves a Pardon?

Ross Ulbricht didn’t just break laws—he destroyed lives, spread chaos, and enabled untold suffering. He wasn’t some misguided idealist caught in the wrong place at the wrong time. He was the deliberate, calculating mastermind of a criminal empire.

So why did Trump pardon him? What does it say about a president who looks at this level of devastation and shrugs it off as “not a big deal”? And what does it say about the voters who stand behind him?

If you support this pardon, ask yourself: Is this who you are?

And then there’s Robert Keith Packer, who turned the Capitol riot into a grotesque stage for hate and Holocaust glorification. If Tarrio and Rhodes embodied political treachery, and Ulbricht personified greed, Packer was a walking symbol of fascist nostalgia.

Robert “Camp Auschwitz” Keith Packer: The Walking Symbol of Hate

When Robert Keith Packer entered the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, he wasn’t just participating in a violent insurrection—he was advertising his allegiance to the darkest chapters of human history. Draped in a black sweatshirt emblazoned with the words “Camp Auschwitz” and the slogan “Work Brings Freedom” (a translation of the infamous “Arbeit Macht Frei” sign above the Nazi concentration camp), Packer’s presence was a gut punch to every survivor, descendant, and citizen who values basic human dignity.

Packer wasn’t just wearing a grotesque message of hate; he was actively desecrating the Capitol, a symbol of democracy, while aligning himself with one of history’s greatest atrocities. His choice of attire wasn’t incidental—it was a statement. It was a celebration of genocide and an invitation to embrace the ideology of fascism.

The Evidence Against Him

Packer was captured on multiple surveillance cameras and by journalists as he stormed the Capitol alongside the mob. He entered restricted areas, participated in violent demonstrations, and refused to comply with law enforcement efforts to restore order. His arrest on January 13th, 2021, came with charges of unlawfully entering a restricted building and violent entry and disorderly conduct.

While his legal team argued he was a man “swept up by the moment,” the evidence told a different story. Packer’s behavior showed no remorse or second thoughts about his actions or the symbolism of his sweatshirt. His participation in the riot and the deliberate messaging on his clothing underscored his disdain for democracy and human decency.

A Conviction and a Slap on the Wrist

In September 2022, Packer pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building, a misdemeanor charge. He was sentenced to just 75 days in jail—a mere slap on the wrist for someone who not only participated in an insurrection but wore a message glorifying the Holocaust while doing so.

Trump’s Pardon: A Free Pass for Hate

And now? Thanks to Donald Trump, Packer walks free with a clean slate. His pardon erases even the lightest consequences of his actions, sending a clear message that this kind of behavior is not only tolerated but forgiven by a man who once held the highest office in the land.

Is This the Kind of Person Who Deserves a Pardon?

Robert Keith Packer is more than just an insurrectionist—he’s a walking billboard for hate, fascism, and the very ideologies that America fought to defeat in World War II. What does it say about Trump that he would pardon such a man? And what does it say about the people who support a president who sees no issue with this?

If you stand by Trump’s decision, ask yourself: Is this who you are?

Conclusion: The Pardons That Shattered America’s Moral Core

When history looks back on Donald Trump’s second presidency, January 21, 2025, will stand out—not as a day of healing, reconciliation, or progress, but as a grim marker of the depths to which a leader and his followers are willing to sink. These pardons were not acts of mercy; they were endorsements of treachery, greed, and hate. Each pardon sent a message to America and the world: the most vile and destructive among us are not only excused but celebrated, as long as they serve the right political agenda.

To the Pardoned: No Redemption Without Accountability
Enrique Tarrio and Stewart Rhodes betrayed their country, masterminding a violent attack on democracy itself. Ross Ulbricht exploited the most vulnerable for profit, leaving families and lives in ruins. Robert "Camp Auschwitz" Packer turned the desecration of the Capitol into a stage for glorifying genocide. These are not people who stumbled or erred—they are people who deliberately chose destruction, who left chaos and suffering in their wake. To pardon them is not to forgive; it is to erase their guilt in the eyes of the law, even as their actions remain a stain on the fabric of this nation.

To Donald Trump: A Legacy of Moral Corruption
In granting these pardons, Trump has solidified his place as a president who stands not for justice or accountability, but for an ideology of grievance and power at any cost. These pardons were not about fairness; they were about rewarding loyalty, no matter how heinous the crimes committed. By erasing the consequences of their actions, Trump has aligned himself fully and unapologetically with seditionists, profiteers, and hate-mongers. His presidency, already marred by a disregard for the rule of law, has now plunged to new depths of cynicism and corruption. Trump’s America isn’t a nation of laws—it’s a nation where the most loyal to him are above them.

To His Supporters: Is This Who You Are?
But the most damning question is for those who still support him. What does it say about you if you look at these pardons and shrug? What does it say about your values, your vision for this country, and your sense of right and wrong? If you continue to stand by Trump after these pardons, you are endorsing more than his leadership—you are endorsing the actions of those he has freed. You are saying that sedition, hate, and greed are not only acceptable but forgivable if they fit the right narrative. Is that who you are? Is that who you want to be?

To the Reader: You Are Already Taking the First Step
But here’s the truth: by reading this, you’ve already taken the first step. You’ve chosen to confront the reality of these pardons, to understand what’s at stake, and to reject the lies that seek to normalize them. That alone is an act of courage in a time when truth itself is under siege.

If this article resonated with you, sharing it with others is another powerful step you can take. Truth thrives when it is shared, and by spreading it, you become part of the solution, part of the movement to hold power accountable.

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Thank you for being part of this movement. Together, we are stronger, and together, we can fight back against the forces that threaten our democracy. For more on how to engage in this time of crisis, we encourage you to read our article, [“Fighting Fascism: How We Push Back and Win”]. It’s time to take action, and the fight begins now.

Sources

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