This week’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) was anticipated to be an unofficial reunion for those who received clemency following President Donald Trump’s wide-scale pardoning of individuals connected to the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
“The J6ers are here at CPAC,” proclaimed Steve Bannon, former Trump strategist and nationalist populist, during his speech, eliciting enthusiastic cheers from the crowd.
However, some individuals were initially barred from entering the conference on Wednesday, including Richard Barnett, whose infamous image with his feet on the desk in then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office became a symbol of the riot.
Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, also faced initial rejection at the event.
“I’m not sure what the reasoning is,” he remarked in a social media video, “there’s a dual system even among conservatives; if you’re an unfavored patriot, you’re cast aside by both the left and the right.”
As a vocal group of Rhodes’ and others’ supporters voiced their concerns online, CPAC responded on X Thursday, refuting claims of exclusion, stating, “It is false that we are excluding individuals from CPAC due to their relation to January 6. CPAC has consistently supported this persecuted group, and we wholeheartedly endorse President Trump’s pardons for the January 6 victims.”
Barnett, Rhodes, and others returned to CPAC on Thursday, with permission to enter this time.
“We are treated like gods,” reported Joe Biggs, a leader of the Proud Boys currently serving a 17-year sentence for his actions during the Capitol riot, when asked by UJ about the reception he received from CPAC participants.
Yet, not everyone had the same luck, as at least one other individual charged in connection with the January 6 events was denied entry on Thursday. The specifics remain unclear; however, a CPAC spokesperson informed UJ that the event “will not tolerate individuals who aim to disrupt our esteemed gathering.”
The spokesperson did not provide further details regarding the nature of the supposed disruptions.
UJ’s Sean Clark contributed to this report.
