Nick Ochs, a January 6 defendant and co-founder of the Hawaii chapter of the Proud Boys, has been released from prison after serving less than two years of a four-year sentence.

Ochs, who was convicted under the controversial 1512(c) statute, had his conviction vacated after the Supreme Court overturned the obstruction charge used to jail hundreds of January 6 defendants.

Ochs’s release marks a significant development in the ongoing legal battles faced by January 6 defendants, many of whom were charged under the same statute.

Speaking to The Gateway Pundit, Ochs shared the emotional experience of reuniting with his family.

“I just got released early from Butner Prison where I was a January 6th Hostage doing 4 years. I ended up doing a bit less than 2 total,” Ochs told The Gateway Pundit, adding, “I beat the whole case and am now innocent.”

“The only charge I had was 1512(c), a charge the Supreme Court threw out on June 28 as not a crime anymore—unless someone tampered with paper ballots, which no one did,” he continued.

He also highlighted the significance of his case for other January 6th defendants, many of whom remain behind bars under similar charges.

“I believe my co-defendant and I were among the first to be released, and others will now be citing my case in court,” Ochs noted, expressing hope that this marks a turning point for many innocent J6ers.

Ochs, who was initially threatened with up to 20 years in prison for his actions on January 6th, argued that he was targeted not for any violent act but “for filming the same events in the same place as mainstream media reporters – who were not arrested.”

Despite this, he became the subject of relentless smears, with left-wing activists and media outlets. False accusations labeled him a member of the Ku Klux Klan and an abuser of his black wife and mixed-race children—vile lies that were never substantiated but served as tools to further discredit him publicly.

After the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling invalidated his charge, Ochs’s conviction was vacated, and he now walks free with no criminal record.

“Doing time after the Supreme Court says you are innocent feels about 3 times longer, I’ll say that much. Now, I am innocent. Conviction vacated, not a sentence commutation or some lesser relief. I have no criminal record,” he added.

In the emotional footage shared with The Gateway Pundit, Ochs is seen reuniting with his wife and children for the first time following his release.

His younger son, born during his incarceration, looked on in confusion, a poignant reminder of the personal toll of a politically motivated persecution, while his older son, who was just a baby when Ochs went to prison, embraced him tightly with emotion.

**For those who wish to support Nick Ochs and his family during this time, visit his fundraiser at GiveSendGo.

WATCH:

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From December 2 to December 7, a team of journalists, media executives and attorneys from

The post Gateway Pundit and Gateway Hispanic Team to Travel to CPAC Argentina for Exclusive Media Tour and Key Institutional Meetings appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Incoming Representative Sarah McBride, who is transgender, has agreed to follow House Speaker Mike Johnson’s policy that everyone must use bathrooms that align with their biological sex on US Capitol premises.

Rep. McBride said in a statement posted to X, “I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families.”

I’m not here to fight about bathrooms. I’m here to fight for Delawareans and to bring down costs facing families. pic.twitter.com/bCuv7pIZBY

— Sarah McBride (@SarahEMcBride) November 20, 2024

“Like all members, I will follow the rules as outlined by Speaker Johnson, even if I disagree with them,” McBride said. “This effort to distract from the real issues facing this country hasn’t distracted me over the last several days, as I’ve remained hard at work preparing to represent the greatest state in the union come January.”

The statement continued, “Serving in the 119th Congress will be an honor of a lifetime — and I continue to look forward to getting to know my future colleagues on both sides of the aisle. Each of us were sent here because voters saw something in us that they value. I have loved getting to see those qualities in the future colleagues that I’ve met and I look forward to seeing those qualities in every member come January. I hope all my colleagues will seek to do the same with me.”

House Speaker Johnson issued a resolution regarding bathroom use on Wednesday morning.

“All single-sex facilities in the Capitol and House Office Buildings — such as restrooms, changing rooms, and locker rooms — are reserved for individuals of that biological sex,” Johnson said. “Women deserve women’s only spaces.”

When reporters asked if McBride was a man or a woman, Johnson replied, “Look, I’m not going to get into this. We welcome all new members with open arms who are duly elected representatives of the people. I believe it’s a command we treat all persons with dignity and respect, we will. And I’m not going to engage in silly debates about this.”

Johnson later clarified, “A man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman.”

BREAKING: Speaker Mike Johnson just said the most savage thing he’s ever said

“Let me be unequivocally clear. A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. And a man cannot become a woman.”

This means Congressman Sarah McBride will NOT be allowed to use the women’s bathroom. pic.twitter.com/kj6FwjMWH2

— George (@BehizyTweets) November 19, 2024

“For anybody who doesn’t know my well-established record on this issue, let me be unequivocally clear: a man is a man, and a woman is a woman, and a man cannot become a woman. That said, I also believe — that’s what scripture teaches, what I just said — but I also believe that we treat everybody with dignity, and so we can do and believe all those things at the same time. And I wanted to make that clear for everybody, because there’s lots of questions, but that’s where I stand. I’ve stood there my whole life. And those are facts.”

The post Being the Bigger Man: Incoming Trans Representative Agrees to Comply with Speaker Johnson’s Bathroom Policy appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is calling for “extensive committee investigations” into President-elect Donald Trump’s appointees to oversee health agencies.

Last week, Trump nominated lawyer Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to be secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.

Former congressman and California Attorney General Xavier Becerra is the current head of the agency. Collins was the only Republican senator to confirm his appointment in a 50 to 49 vote in March 2021.

HHS encompasses the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare, and the National Institutes of Health, among other organizations.

On Tuesday, Trump also announced that Dr. Mehmet Oz is his pick to head up the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Service.

Very excited that my friend @DrOz has agreed to run CMS. Thank you ​@realDonaldTrump for this outstanding nomination. Welcome Dr​. Oz to ​The Avengers. ​Let’s Make America Healthy Again! https://t.co/jjQoqoiZuC pic.twitter.com/e7CSkh5kem

— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) November 19, 2024

Collins told Axios that the Senate’s constitutional “advice and consent” duty for Trump’s appointees “means a background check, it means extensive committee investigations and questionnaires and public hearings.”

The moderate GOP senator also said that she would be against Trump making recess appointments asserting it would be a way to “avoid and evade the Senate’s constitutional duty to do advice and consent.”

Trump posted on Truth Social on Nov. 10, “Any Republican Senator seeking the coveted LEADERSHIP position in the United States Senate must agree to Recess Appointments (in the Senate!), without which we will not be able to get people confirmed in a timely manner.”

“Sometimes the votes can take two years, or more,” he continued. “This is what they did four years ago, and we cannot let it happen again. We need positions filled IMMEDIATELY!”

Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution provides, “The President shall have Power to fill up all Vacancies that may happen during the Recess of the Senate, by granting Commissions which shall expire at the End of their next Session.”

The Senate must be in recess at least 10 days in order for a president to make a recess appointment, according to historical practice, according to The New York Times.

Several presidents have used recess appointments, including Bill Clinton, who made 139 recess appointments, and George W. Bush, 171, and Barack Obama, 32, but not for cabinet-level positions, the Times said.

In 2005, Bush named John Bolton as his ambassador to the United Nations through a recess appointment, when Democratic senators and one Republican filibustered him, thereby preventing him from receiving an up or down confirmation vote. Senate rules changed in 2013 preventing a filibuster from being employed to block a confirmation vote on administration officials.

Senate Majority Leader-elect John Thune said last week that recess appointments are “on the table.”

“I think that all options are on the table, including recess appointments. Hopefully, it doesn’t get to that but we’ll find out fairly quickly whether the Democrats want to play ball or not,” he said during a Thursday Fox News interview.

LEADER-ELECT THUNE: “All options are on the table, including recess appointments. Hopefully it doesn’t get to that.” pic.twitter.com/labzFukMgQ

— Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 14, 2024

“We’ll start having confirmation hearings soon as the new Senate is sworn in in January,” he added. “By the time he takes the oath of office, hopefully, a lot of those nominees will be through their confirmation hearings, and we’ll be ready to act on them on the Senate floor.”

“Then it’s a question of how much do the Democrats resist or object or try to block those nominations from going forward. And we’re going to grind them out,” Thune said.

Axios identified Collins, along with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski, as two members of the Republican caucus who could create problems for approving at least some of Trump’s nominees.

Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted to confirm Rachel Levine to be Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services but say they cannot vote to confirm Matt Gaetz as AG b/c he’s not a serious pick.

Collins and Murkowski aren’t serious senators. pic.twitter.com/hDXtTUTETG

— David Giglio (@DavidGiglioCA) November 15, 2024

The two were the only GOP senators to vote to confirm Rachel Levine, current assistant HHS secretary.

This article appeared originally on The Western Journal.

The post GOP Senator Susan Collins Throws a Wrench in Trump’s Cabinet Plans appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.

Conservative Wyoming Republican Rep. Harriet Hageman defended Trump’s choice of Matt Gaetz for attorney general this week during an appearance on C-Span.

Citing her work with Gaetz on the Judiciary and Weaponization Committee, Hageman described Gaetz as a ‘brilliant legal mind.’

Hageman also suggested that Gaetz would stir things up at DOJ, which she suggested was needed.

The Econo Times reported:

Rep. Hageman Praises Gaetz’s ‘Brilliant Legal Mind’: ‘He’ll Stir Up the DOJ!’

In a recent statement, Representative Harriet Hageman (R-Wyo.) expressed strong support for former Representative Matt Gaetz’s nomination as Attorney General, highlighting his legal acumen and potential to reform the Department of Justice (DOJ). Hageman’s endorsement comes amid ongoing debates over Gaetz’s suitability for the role.

Having collaborated with Gaetz on the House Judiciary Committee and the Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, Hageman emphasized his legal expertise and commitment to addressing perceived issues within the DOJ. She stated, “He’s an incredibly brilliant legal mind and I think he’s somebody that would go in and stir up the DOJ, which is what we need.”

President-elect Donald Trump nominated Gaetz for Attorney General, citing his dedication to conservative principles and legal reform.

Watch the video below:

Rep. @HagemanforWY: “I’ve worked with Matt Gaetz for the last two years on the Judiciary and Weaponization Committee. He’s an incredibly brilliant legal mind and I think he’s somebody that would go in and stir up the DOJ, which is what we need.” pic.twitter.com/00T2TXH5QB

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 20, 2024

Harriet Hageman is the woman who successfully ran against Liz Cheney, beating her by a massive margin.

Wyoming loves President Trump! https://t.co/X6qw98RfGX

— Harriet Hageman (@HagemanforWY) November 6, 2024

She just won reelection.

I am humbled by and grateful for the support of the people Wyoming to continue as their lone member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and I reiterate my solemn pledge to always represent the views and best interests of the people of our great state in Washington, D.C. pic.twitter.com/YnpJvop5aJ

— Harriet Hageman (@HagemanforWY) November 6, 2024

Hageman is a great improvement for the Republican party and the people of Wyoming.

The post Conservative Wyoming Congresswoman Harriet Hageman Defends Choice of Matt Gaetz for AG: ‘An Incredibly Brilliant Legal Mind’ (VIDEO) appeared first on The Gateway Pundit.