Fact Check: "Trump commuted Joe Biggs' 17-year prison sentence after less than two years."
What We Know
Joseph Biggs, a prominent member of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. He was found guilty on multiple charges, including seditious conspiracy, in 2023 (Joe Biggs - Wikipedia, Ex-Proud Boys Joseph Biggs gets 17 years in prison for ...). Biggs served approximately 1.39 years of his sentence before it was commuted by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025 (Trump commutes 17-year prison sentence for Volusia County ...).
Analysis
The claim that "Trump commuted Joe Biggs' 17-year prison sentence after less than two years" is misleading. While it is true that Biggs was sentenced to 17 years and served about 1.39 years before his sentence was commuted, the wording of the claim implies that he was released after a very short time in prison.
Biggs was sentenced in August 2023 and his sentence was commuted in January 2025, which means he served a little over a year and a third of his sentence before the commutation. The commutation occurred after a significant legal process, and it is important to note that the commutation does not equate to a full pardon; it merely reduces the length of the sentence (Ex-Proud Boys Joseph Biggs gets 17 years in prison for ..., Trump commutes 17-year prison sentence for Volusia County ...).
The sources used to verify this claim are credible, including major news outlets and a widely recognized online encyclopedia. However, the interpretation of the timeline can lead to confusion regarding the nature of the commutation and the actual time served.
Conclusion
Verdict: False
The claim that "Trump commuted Joe Biggs' 17-year prison sentence after less than two years" is misleading. While it is accurate that Biggs served approximately 1.39 years before his sentence was commuted, the implication that this was a brief or insignificant period is incorrect. The commutation followed a legal process and occurred after a significant portion of his sentence had been served.
Sources
- Joe Biggs - Wikipedia
- Ex-Proud Boys Joseph Biggs gets 17 years in prison for ...
- Trump commutes 17-year prison sentence for Volusia County ...
- ‘We took the fall for him’: Proud Boy leader snarls at Trump ...
- A former Proud Boys leader was freed from a 17-year prison ...
- Volusia County Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs, freed by Trump, sues
- Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 pardons free several Floridians jailed ...
