CPAC Ejects Enrique Tarrio and Other Jan. 6 Defendants, Then Does a 180

After Miami Proud Boy Enrique Tarrio and other pardoned January 6 defendants were booted from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) in National Harbor, Maryland, on Wednesday, the organization appeared to reverse course, allowing some of those folks back in.

According to a @J6PatriotNews post on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, CPAC ejected Jake Lang, Oathkeepers founder Stewart Rhodes, Adam Villarreal, Richard "Bigo" Barnett, Rachel Myers, Tarrio, and fellow Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola.

But today a handful of those who were banished gained entry to CPAC, according to social media posts. In one, Tarrio shows off his credentials in a photo alongside the caption, "Boom."

Boom. pic.twitter.com/hBNJV5kozk

— Enrique Tarrio (@NobleOne) February 20, 2025

In a video posted to X, Barnett stands next to right-wing political operative Jake Raiklin as Raiklin discusses prison sentences handed down post-January 6. Barnett was photographed sitting at then-Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi's desk during the January 6 riot. (Jesus Rivera, a Pensacola man who also served time for his role in the insurrection, can be seen in the video as well.)

J6ers with @IvanRaiklin https://t.co/5SG6k8tnyL

— itsme_JD_ (@its_me_jd_again) February 20, 2025

Another video portrays Rhodes, sporting a black cowboy hat, gaining admission to CPAC after conferring with staffers.

NEW: Stewart Rhodes have been let into the CPAC this morning. He just received his credentials after speaking to CPAC staffers pic.twitter.com/uOECVgGPeS

— Oliya Scootercaster 🛴 (@ScooterCasterNY) February 20, 2025

A day earlier, Tarrio was caught on video in his black and yellow Proud Boy garb being escorted out of the conference by security personnel. Tarrio later told New Times he was kicked out "because of who I am." He promised a further elaboration to New Times Thursday morning but had not followed up by late afternoon.

Spotted at #CPAC@WashProbs
Pardoned Former Proud Boy Leader Enrique Tarrio Will Run For Office #CPAC2025 in #WashingtonDC 🇺🇲#enriquetarrio @CPAC#CPAC pic.twitter.com/6u4YYdvtuE

— Noelia Belén Izarza 🇻🇪🇺🇸 (@myteks) February 20, 2025

Lang, who was accused of assaulting police with a bat during the January 6 riot, said his credentials were revoked without explanation and that he was forbidden to claim the 22 tickets he'd purchased for fellow January 6ers. He said he paid for an exhibitor's booth and spent thousands of dollars to fly fellow pardoned defendants to the conference.

"They are telling me right now that I am not allowed to stay at CPAC. They are kicking January 6ers out of CPAC," Lang says in a video on X. "This woman is telling me that my credentials have been removed. You know I did 900 days of solitary confinement? I was just released from the D.C. gulag 29 days ago with a presidential pardon and you're removing my credentials from CPAC."

In response to the reports that January 6 defendants were being escorted out of the conference, CPAC took to social media to rebut the claims — albeit without explanation.

"It is untrue that we are not allowing people to come to CPAC because of their involvement with J6," a post on CPAC's X account reads. In fact, CPAC has been a constant supporter of this persecuted community and we support wholeheartedly President Trump’s pardons of the J6 victims. The registration link is active and tickets will be sold out very soon."

It is untrue that we are not allowing people to come to CPAC because of their involvement with J6. In fact, CPAC has been a constant supporter of this persecuted community and we support wholeheartedly President Trump’s pardons of the J6 victims. The registration link is active…

— CPAC (@CPAC) February 20, 2025

The annual political conference for conservatives continues through February 22. New Times is awaiting a response from CPAC about why Tarrio and others were escorted out on Wednesday.