J6er And Proud Boy Leader, Zach Rehl, Has His Pro Se Motion Ignored, Pushing For Dismissal In January 6 Case
In the ongoing saga of the January 6, 2021, Capitol events, few stories highlight the tensions between individual rights and government authority as starkly as that of Zachary Rehl, a former Marine Corps veteran and Proud Boys leader from Philadelphia. Sentenced to 15 years in prison following his conviction on charges including seditious conspiracy, Rehl’s sentence was commuted by President Donald Trump in early 2025, allowing him to reunite with his family after years of incarceration. However, Rehl’s battle is far from over.
In a bold move last November, he filed a pro se motion, a legal filing made without an attorney, alleging massive prosecutorial misconduct and demanding a new trial or outright dismissal of his case. Months later, with no substantive response from the government, Rehl’s case underscores deeper issues of due process, accountability, and the need for exoneration.
Rehl’s motion, detailed in reports from outlets like The Gateway Pundit, lays out explosive claims against Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors involved in his trial. He accuses them of withholding exculpatory evidence, coercing witnesses, and engaging in selective prosecution, violations that, if proven, could undermine the integrity of his conviction. These allegations are not isolated; they echo broader criticisms of the January 6 prosecutions, including infringements on Sixth Amendment rights such as speedy trials and impartial juries in the heavily partisan Washington, D.C., venue.
Rehl, who has three degrees and spent much of his prison time studying law, took matters into his own hands after his appeal in the D.C. Circuit Court (Case No. 23-3194) was terminated on January 28, 2025, shortly after Trump’s inauguration and the commutation of his sentence. The motion demands relief based on these misconduct claims, arguing that the government’s actions during the trial amounted to a miscarriage of justice. “I’m thankful today to be out of prison with my family, but sad I need to keep fighting for justice,” Rehl posted on X around Thanksgiving 2025, highlighting his determination to clear his name.
I’m Thankful today to be out of prison with my family, but sad I need to keep fighting for justice. I hope to see some good things coming soon, especially after I filed this motion myself to dismiss the case against me. https://t.co/J81T4gthYF
— Zach Rehl (@zach_rehl) November 28, 2025
The government’s silence on the motion is telling. As of February 2026, no formal response has been filed, effectively ignoring Rehl’s claims despite the legal obligation to address such filings in ongoing proceedings. This inaction, Rehl argues, further violates due process and strengthens the case for dismissal. Under federal rules, prolonged delays or failures to respond can lead to default judgments or sanctions, and in high-profile cases like this, it raises questions about selective enforcement and political motivations.
The push for dismissal isn’t just about Rehl’s personal vindication, it’s rooted in legal precedent and recent developments in January 6 cases. Following the Supreme Court’s 2024 ruling in Fischer v. United States, which narrowed the application of obstruction charges under 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2), many convictions have been revisited. While Rehl’s primary conviction was for seditious conspiracy (18 U.S.C. § 2384), overlapping charges and evidence issues tie his case to this decision.
TO HELP ZACH AND HIS FAMILY: CLICK HERE
Moreover, in the wake of Trump’s 2025 pardons for over 1,200 January 6 defendants, excluding a small group like Rehl, the DOJ has moved to dismiss numerous pending cases. Wikipedia’s comprehensive list of January 6 cases notes that the department dismissed prosecutions “with prejudice” in some instances, preventing refiling. Rehl’s motion contends that similar logic applies here: if prosecutorial overreach tainted his trial, continuing the case serves no justice and only perpetuates harm.
Critics, including Rehl himself, point to systemic issues exposed in related cases. For instance, whistleblowers have alleged coercion by prosecutors like Jocelyn Ballantine, who was involved in multiple high-profile January 6 trials. Rehl has publicly criticized such figures, noting in an X post (below) how Ballantine and others justified government misconduct during his trial. Ignoring his pro se motion, he argues, compounds these abuses and warrants immediate dismissal to restore faith in the system.
We had 7 prosecutors at our trial and she would jump in as number 8 any time the government got caught committing outrageous misconduct to justify the governments wrongful actions, which the judge would gleefully eat up. Every single one still has a job. Every. Single. One. https://t.co/AZQNLhAWqV
— Zach Rehl (@zach_rehl) January 17, 2026
Beyond the courtroom, Rehl’s fight has taken a tremendous toll on his life and family. A husband and father, he spent over four years as what he calls a “J6/PB hostage,” separated from loved ones while navigating a system he describes as rigged. Even after commutation, the stigma of conviction lingers, affecting employment, reputation, and mental health. Rehl’s bio on X proudly declares him a “Marine Corps Vet, husband, father & Patriot,” but the ongoing legal battle means he can’t fully move forward.
This is where financial support becomes critical. Legal fees for appeals, expert witnesses, and filings add up quickly, especially for someone representing themselves pro se. Family expenses such as mortgage, childcare, and daily living, don’t pause during protracted court fights. Rehl has also spoken about the broader need for January 6 defendants to seek restitution, with some filing suits against the DOJ for wrongful prosecution and damages.
To aid his cause, Rehl has a dedicated fundraiser on GiveSendGo, accessible at givesendgo.com/zach-rehl. The campaign seeks contributions for legal expenses, family support, and efforts toward full exoneration. As Rehl noted in posts, every donation helps in the “fight against the government for my exoneration from January 6th.” In a time when many January 6 families have faced financial ruin, this fundraiser represents a lifeline for Rehl to continue advocating not just for himself, but for accountability across the board.
Zach’s case is emblematic of larger debates about government overreach, political prosecutions, and the right to a fair trial. With his pro se motion languishing without response, the argument for dismissal grows stronger daily. As Rehl himself put it on X, “How long do we have to suffer or be the J6 punching bag when everyone in government already knows it wasn’t us?”
For supporters of due process and transparency, backing Rehl’s efforts, through awareness, advocacy, or donations to his GiveSendGo campaign, sends a message that justice delayed is justice denied.
As developments unfold, one thing is clear. Zach isn’t backing down. His story serves as a reminder that even in victory, like sentence commutation, the pursuit of true exoneration requires resilience, resources, and public support.
Catch the full interview in the comments! https://t.co/APc7IaYMU2
— Zach Rehl (@zach_rehl) December 14, 2025
TO HELP ZACH IN HIS FIGHT PLEASE CLICK HERE or GO TO GIVESENDGO.COM/ZACH-REHL
*** The Gateway Pundit does not receive any part of the donations collected from the Givesendgo or fundraising site for this article. We are giving these politically persecuted J6ers a platform to tell their stories and help them reclaim their lives. ***
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