Bombshell Confession: J6er Jeremy Bertino’s Affidavit Exposes DOJ Coercion in Proud Boys Case – Enrique Tarrio Teases Interview with the J6 Turncoat Who Helped Feds Send Him to Prison for 22 Yrs
By Enrique Tarrio
August 25, 2025
The January 6 prosecutions stand as a stark example of how the justice system was manipulated under the Biden administration to target political adversaries.
For years, I’ve asserted that the charges leveled against me and the “Seditious 5″—Joe Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Zach Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola were constructed on a web of distortions, pressure tactics, and outright fabrications. Now, Jeremy Bertino, the cooperating witness whose testimony played a central role in our convictions, has surfaced with a sworn affidavit that, while claiming coercion, ultimately reveals his own complicity in the process. Bertino aligned himself with the very agents and prosecutors who engineered this farce, working hand-in-glove with them to deliver a narrative that suited their agenda.
This isn’t a story of exoneration through heroism, it’s a grim reminder of how individuals can buckle and collaborate with the system, perpetuating injustice even as they later attempt to distance themselves. Despite the profound damage caused by Bertino’s choices, which contributed to my 22-year sentence (pre-pardon) and the lengthy terms imposed on my brothers, I conducted a prerecorded interview with him to probe the facts. I aimed for neutrality in pursuit of clarity, but his revelations only highlight the extent of his involvement with figures like FBI Agent Nicole Miller and prosecutors Jocelyn Ballantine and Jason McCullough.
The full interview airs this Wednesday, but here’s a detailed exploration of the affidavit’s claims, the contradictions in Bertino’s FBI transcripts, and a tease of the most damning moments from our discussion.
The Proud Boys Trial: A Fabricated Narrative from the Start
The trial against the Proud Boys was never about justice, it was a political spectacle designed to vilify Trump supporters and score points in the court of public opinion. I received the longest sentence of any January 6 defendant: 22 years for seditious conspiracy, despite not being present in Washington, D.C., on that day. Biggs was handed 17 years, Nordean 18, Rehl 15, and Pezzola 10. The DOJ’s case hinged on portraying us as masterminds of a plot to disrupt the 2020 election certification, with Bertino’s testimony as the linchpin. He described a supposed “desperation for all-out revolution,” positioning the Proud Boys as the “tip of the spear” in a coordinated effort.
Bertino’s path to the witness stand began with his October 2022 guilty plea to seditious conspiracy charges, making him the first Proud Boy to do so. In exchange for a lighter outcome—his sentence was commuted by President Trump in January 2025—he provided the testimony that sealed our fates. But his affidavit now attempts to rewrite that history, claiming he was “groomed” over a year with over 15 meetings. What it really underscores is Bertino’s active participation in the DOJ’s strategy, collaborating with Miller, Ballantine, and McCullough to mold a story that fit their needs.
Bertino wasn’t just a pawn; he became part of the machinery that ground down innocent men.
The trial was marred by irregularities from the outset. Evidence like the “1776 Returns” document, a purported blueprint for occupying buildings, was paraded as proof of my involvement, even though forensics later confirmed I never viewed, edited, or shared it. Bertino’s affidavit admits he was fed this line by Miller, who allegedly presented it as “damning” evidence I authored. This wasn’t passive acceptance; Bertino went along with it, repeating the falsehoods on the stand. His cooperation didn’t end there, he endured mock cross-exams and script adjustments, all while knowing the facts didn’t align with the charges.
Contradictions in the FBI Transcripts: A Facade of Willingness
The screenshots from Bertino’s FBI proffer sessions in 2022—March 18, June 9, and June 22—offer a window into how the groundwork was laid. These documents list the key players: AUSA Erik Kenerson, Special Agent Nicole Miller, Task Force Officer Catherine Bowles, AUSA Nadia Moore, and others. On the surface, they emphasize a cooperative, pressure-free environment. The March 18 transcript reads: “Everything we’re doing in here today is voluntary… If at any point you want to stop this interview, that’s your call.” Bertino responds affirmatively: “Understood.”
The June 9 session echoes this: “This whole thing is voluntary… If you want us to shut this interview down at any point, that’s fine.” Again, Bertino confirms: “Okay.” And on June 22: “This is still under the protections of the proffer letter… if you want to stop this at any point let us know.” He replies: “Okay.” Miller is prominently featured, even setting the time in one instance: “Currently 1:17 p.m.”
Yet Bertino’s affidavit claims these were part of a coercive “grooming” scheme, with threats of decades in prison if he didn’t “play ball.” If true, it means he concealed this during the sessions themselves, going along with the charade. This isn’t the mark of someone trapped; it’s the behavior of a participant who chose to collaborate, providing the DOJ with the ammunition they needed. His later recantation doesn’t erase that—he was an equal partner in the process alongside Miller and Ballantine, helping to build a case that sent innocent men away for years.
These transcripts also reveal the DOJ’s focus on mindset and interactions, probing Bertino’s recollections of the lead-up to January 6. Kenerson states: “We understand… you don’t have a window into anyone else’s mind… But you did obviously have interactions with folks.” Bertino’s responses at the time show no signs of duress, further highlighting his willingness to engage. Only now, after securing his deal and freedom, does he claim otherwise—timing that raises serious questions about his motives.
Bertino’s Affidavit: Admissions of Collaboration, Not Exoneration
In his August affidavit, Bertino describes a process that began casually—”We’re not gonna charge you”—but escalated to explicit threats: “The weight of the federal government on your shoulders was a pretty big threat.” He accuses Miller of intercepting attorney-client communications and editing CHS reports, tying into the 2023 trial revelations where she was caught hiding over 1,000 messages. Ballantine and McCullough allegedly ran the scripting sessions, using his lawyer as a go-between to refine his story.
Bertino insists there was no real crime: “Absolutely not” to Capitol storming discussions; “HELL no” to an insurrection plan. He claims DOJ knew but prosecuted to “crush political opponents.” But this rings hollow given his active role—he didn’t resist; he complied, repeating the coached lines on the stand. His “regret” comes too late: “Watching them get convicted… broke my heart.” He waited until after Trump’s inauguration to speak, citing fear, but that delay only prolonged the injustice he helped create. Bertino wasn’t coerced into silence; he chose to be part of the team with Miller and Ballantine, delivering testimony that inflicted real harm.
The Interview: Probing the Facts Without Illusion
Sitting down with Bertino wasn’t about reconciliation—his actions caused irreversible damage, aligning him squarely with the agents and prosecutors who orchestrated this. I approached the interview with a neutral intent to extract details, but his responses only confirmed his complicity in the DOJ’s scheme. The full discussion airs Wednesday, unpacking the alleged tactics and his belated admissions. Here’s a tease of two of the most damning excerpts from the transcript:
1. On DOJ Deception and Fabricated Evidence: Bertino acknowledges the lies fed to him: “Nicole Miller brought out the 1776 document and told me that Enrique had wrote it… Come to find out later he didn’t. He had nothing to do with writing it.” He concedes the manipulation: “Of course… it’s the oldest play in the book… make you seem like you set me up.” This exposes how he went along with falsehoods that formed the core of the case against us.
2. Addressing the Seditious 5: Bertino speaks to Biggs, Pezzola, Rehl, and Nordean: “I guess I’d say boys, you know there’s no way that I could ever atone for what I did… you guys didn’t deserve anything that the government did to you… I am sorry truly for having to be part of that… Folding under pressure was something I never thought I would do.” He admits choosing “family and freedom over the truth,” while noting our stand: “Those are some giant fucking balls.” But apologies don’t undo the years lost due to his collaboration.
Calling for Accountability: No Excuses, Just Consequences
Special Agent Nicole Miller’s role demands immediate scrutiny—her handling of evidence, from hidden messages to edited reports, violated basic integrity. Ballantine, as head of the Capitol division, oversaw this mess and remains employed. Bertino’s affidavit doesn’t absolve him; it shows he was their willing accomplice, providing the testimony that locked us up. This isn’t redemption—it’s an after-the-fact confession that changes nothing for those who suffered.
The Seditious 5 were innocent from day one, and Bertino’s words now confirm it: No plan, no conspiracy—just a DOJ bent on persecution. This affidavit should trigger investigations, firings, and full exonerations. #NoJ6Conspiracy #FireNicoleMiller #ProudBoysInnocent
** Watch the exclusive full interview this Wednesday on my Substack at www.NobleLead.substack.com—unfiltered, with clips and analysis.
More info–
Enrique weighs in on his latest interview with Bertino.
ATTENTION
This episode was extremely difficult for me to record. A brother turned state? Never thought it was possible. But this was necessary to get to the truth to get my Brothers exonerated.
Please subscribe to my substack below to join.https://t.co/DfPtYl34BK https://t.co/KQMvIqeaNV
— Enrique Tarrio (@NobleOne) August 22, 2025
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