Judge Dismisses Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Case After Appeals Court Vacates Convictions

A federal judge dismissed the seditious conspiracy case against four Proud Boys leaders on July 10, 2026, after the Justice Department moved to end the prosecution. The dismissal was granted with prejudice, barring any future administration from bringing the charges again. The four men were convicted in 2023 of serious felonies tied to the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S.

Capitol. Three of the defendants were convicted of seditious conspiracy. The fourth was convicted of multiple felonies including assault on officers and breaking a Capitol window. A presidential proclamation on January 20, 2025, commuted the sentences of the four men and directed the attorney general to seek dismissal with prejudice of pending January 6 cases.

The Justice Department asked an appeals court in April 2026 to vacate the convictions. The appeals court approved the request in May 2026 and returned the case to the district court. The judge stated that separation of powers principles required granting the motion in full and that courts lack authority to compel the executive branch to continue a prosecution.

The opinion emphasized that granting the motion did not reflect agreement with the underlying decision to dismiss the case. "In light of fundamental separation of powers principles ... the proper course here is for the Court simply to grant the motion in full," the judge said.