Proud Boys ex-leader Zach Rehl shares thoughts following release by President Trump

PHILADELPHIA — Zach Rehl, the former leader of the Philadelphia Proud Boys, is among those who had his sentence commuted by President Donald Trump.

After being found guilty of seditious conspiracy and other offenses, he received a 15-year prison sentence in a federal facility due to his involvement in the U.S Capitol riot on January 6.

READ MORE: Trump commutes sentences of Jan. 6 rioters, including former Philadelphia Proud Boys leader

The case against him included an assertion that he sprayed the face of a U.S. Capitol police officer with some kind of irritant.

It’s an allegation he still denies.

“During his initial TV interview with WPVI’s Walter Perez, Rehl maintained his innocence regarding any actions taken against law enforcement. He specifically stated, ‘I didn’t use anything against any police officers. I didn’t do anything against police officers,’ when addressing the allegations against him.

FULL INTERVIEW: Former Philly Proud Boys leader speaks out after being freed by President Trump

“So, where did that come from?” asked Perez.

“I don’t know. I wasn’t even charged with anything related to assault. In fact, I was actually acquitted of any assaults,” Rehl said.

In the same interview, Rehl expressed his disapproval for individuals who had physically harmed or assaulted law enforcement officers on the day of the riot. However, he clarified that he only denounces unprovoked attacks directed at the police.

“People did things back towards police,” he says, “but a lot of people don’t realize it was in self-defense. In retaliation of being assaulted by the cops first,” Rehl explained.

“Or the alternative would’ve been to pull back,” said Perez.

“They could have but, like I said, you can’t really move anywhere. Some people felt like they didn’t have anywhere to go,” Rehl responded.

The Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office said they may get involved in the case.

“We are exploring the possibility of state charges for certain J6 insurrectionists… We may have more to say on Thursday,” a spokesperson for the office said Wednesday.

“That’s insanity really,” Rehl says. “I would ask Mr. Krasner to really think that one through because I already went through the legal process. I’m going through the legal process on that. We have a lot of problems in Philadelphia and I think we need to worry about what’s going on in Philadelphia, not what’s going on in DC.”

Rehl offered these thoughts when Perez asked him if he regretted being involved on January 6: “After you get arrested and denied bail and sentenced to 15 years in federal prison, you have those kinds of thoughts, like, ‘Wow, maybe I shouldn’t have went down there.'”