Ethan Nordean, a self-described member of the Proud Boys and former Auburn resident, has joined four other men in suing the United States government, alleging that their prosecution and imprisonment following the Jan. 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol amounted to a politically motivated abuse of power.

The 28-page federal lawsuit, filed June 6, 2025 in the Middle District of Florida, names Nordean, Enrique Tarrio, Joseph Biggs, Dominic Pezzola, and Zachary Rehl as plaintiffs.

All were convicted of crimes related to the Capitol riot and have since had their sentences commuted or been pardoned by President Donald Trump in January 2025.

Nordean, who previously lived in Auburn, worked in Des Moines, and was known in regional far-right circles, claims he was arrested without probable cause in February 2021 after federal agents raided his home with flashbang grenades and automatic weapons.

The complaint alleges that Nordean was thrown to the ground at gunpoint, denied access to attorneys and family for months, and held in solitary confinement for more than a year before his conviction.

The lawsuit accuses FBI agents and Justice Department officials—including FBI Special Agent Nicole Miller—of evidence tampering, destruction of exculpatory materials, and spying on attorney-client communications using a paid informant embedded in the Proud Boys’ defense team.

The suit also alleges that a “1776 Returns” document, used as a central piece of evidence in the original trial, was planted in co-defendant Enrique Tarrio’s email account and never opened or shared by the plaintiffs.

The lawsuit states:

“The Defendants’ cruel and unusual treatment of Nordean indicates an intention to make Nordean suffer in punishment for crimes of which he had not been convicted to satisfy the Defendants’ personal animus against Nordean.”

The filing further challenges the government’s use of what it calls a “novel” legal theory—referred to as the “tool theory”—under which the plaintiffs were convicted for the actions of others present at the Capitol, even if they did not coordinate with them directly.

The complaint seeks $100 million in punitive damages and alleges violations of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Amendments, as well as malicious prosecution and false imprisonment.

As of press time, the Department of Justice had not responded to the allegations in court.

Nordean’s ties to South King County and his role as one of the most visible Pacific Northwest Proud Boys during and after the 2020 election cycle had previously drawn public scrutiny. He was known for appearances at rallies and protests in Seattle and Portland and was identified in court filings as a key organizer in the days leading up to the January 6 riot.