On July 8, 2022, Richland Springs High School graduate Tyler Ethridge turned himself in and was arrested in Denver, Colorado for his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C. Ethridge, 36, who recently moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, was incarcerated on a felony charge of civil disorder, as well as five misdemeanor charges. He was one of nearly 1,600 people to receive a pardon when President Donald Trump was sworn into office. BrownwoodNews.com reached out to Ethridge about being granted clemency, his time incarcerated, and what the future holds. Ethridge provided the following responses via email:
“I want to thank you for giving me the platform to speak on behalf of my experiences pertaining to January 6th,” Ethridge began the email. “This has been a very long and grueling four years. I’ve got the gray hairs to show for it.”
Ethridge then addressed the following questions:
Q: When you learned of the presidential election results, how did you feel about your future at that time?
A great relief came into my heart as we watched my Pastors broadcasting network called Check the News of the election results in real time.
I knew within myself that everything was going to be okay.
My future always felt secure because I’m a Christian who actually believes the Bible. It has much to say about our individual destinies and future. Mine is very bright.
Q: When the pardon was made official, what was that feeling like for you?
It actually felt very similar to winning a state championship. Only much bigger. You almost feel numb. Like, “is this really over?”
I just spent four years wondering if it would ever end then suddenly, bam, I’m standing before the warden on the evening of the inauguration hearing how they are getting ready to process me out.
3 hours later I’m walking out of federal prison with a box full of books and letters from people from all over the United States who love and support me.
Q: How long was your sentence, and how long were you incarcerated?
I was sentenced with 7 months incarceration, 7 months of home confinement, and 24 months of probation. I spent 70 days in prison.
Q: While you were incarcerated, did you have any beliefs one way or the other if you would ever receive a pardon?
I had many beliefs. So many that I’m currently turning them into a book. Be on the look out for it. I’m almost finished transcribing them from the 2.5 journals I wrote in while incarcerated. Rookie Publishing will be publishing it for me.
Q: What were the most challenging aspects of being incarcerated for you personally?
Separation from my daughters was the hardest part.
My beautiful wife is as strong as horse radish. She’s the godliest women I have ever met. Strong in faith. I was never concerned about her.
My Pastor Jonathan Shuttlesworth reached out to me on X saying he would take care of my wife and children while I was in prison, so I knew she would find her place among the body of Christ at his church in Pittsburgh.
There were many difficult things I experienced while in prison. I wrote about them all in my book.
Q: Did you learn anything about yourself while you were incarcerated? Did the experience change your outlook on life in any way?
I learned that I’m much stronger than I thought. I’ve endured a good fight. I never compromised in prison. I stood against much opposition these past four years. I’ve experienced a lot of slander, threats, rejection, betrayal, and sorrow, yet I’ve come out the other side not even smelling like smoke.
I experienced God in many special ways while in prison. I fell more in love with Him. He became my God, the lifter of my head.
He helped me get through this, and He will help everyone reading this testimony not just to get through their storms, but to become triumphant in them. That’s what happened to me. I became strong in the Lord. The persecutions I’ve endured have rather matured me. I’ve become fully convinced that America is worth saving. It’s worth going to prison for. It’s worth losing your reputation amongst those who think they know you over. It’s worth dying for. This is the greatest nation on the planet. I’m honored to have gone through such a light affliction for Her. She’s America the Beautiful, land that I love!
Q: Do you feel there should have been a blanket pardon, or should the pardons have been determined on an individual basis?
For what we have had to endure as a nation since 2015, especially since 2020, yes, I agree with the blanket pardons.
What these corrupt people in power have done to our country, to my countrymen, to our youth, to our veterans, and to our children over the past 100 years deserve much more than what us J6ers have endured.
I encourage your readers to go read the Declaration of Independence again. Listen to the language they used when talking about a corrupt government.
What we did compared to our fellow Americans during our founding era, specifically the revolutionary war, is a joke.
Go research what men like Peter Muhlenberg, a Pastor during the revolutionary war, did. His statue is forever enshrined in Statutory Hall in the United States Capitol.
I saw that same spirit manifest on January 6th. I’m proud of my fellow Americans. I thought the American spirit was dead. But when I saw that middle aged mother with her children locked in her arms as she walked up to the Capitol I knew it was alive and well.
I don’t agree with the violence against police, but I also don’t agree with them shooting me with rubber bullets for merely standing on the inaugural floor like a millennial while taking selfies. Some insurrectionist I was.
I don’t agree with how they threw concussion grenades at and pepper sprayed us before things got violent. I personally believe they provoked us to violence. I plan on talking more about this in a second book idea I have.
Q: What would you like to say to those who feel no pardons should have be issued?
I’m not trying to win those people. They are the same people who attacked us for refusing to wear a mask, refusing to social distance, refusing to get the COVID vaccine, and refusing to shut down our churchs. I don’t waste my time anymore with trying to convince people like that of the truth. Their eyes are blinded by the spirit of this world. I’m a preacher of the gospel who also happens to love his country. There is no such thing as separation of church and state. What a lie. This nation was birthed by the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Just look at what our founders said when they came to the shores of Virginia Beach.
Look into what Harvard was originally established for. Google Wallbuilders. YouTube David Barton. This is God’s country, and we’ve allowed the heathen to run us over long enough.
If it’s a fight they want we’ll give it to them. A spiritual fight.
Q: Do you feel being linked to January 6 will either hinder you or help you in the future?
My Pastor, Jonathan Shuttlesworth, spoke a word over us at a meeting in Denver just before I went to prison.
He said it would be the very thing that would elevate me like him refusing to shut down his meetings during COVID exploded his ministry.
I’ve already done an interview with Owen Shroyer on InfoWars. Now I’m being interviewed by you guys. This is just the beginning. I truly believe my book will spark a national revival. It’s time for the church to rise up. It’s time for Christians to get bold and speak the truth. We are in the midst of a third great awakening. Young people are turning to Christ in droves. God is using men like my pastor to trail-blaze revival across this wonderful land!
Q: What are your future plans, and what will you take from this experience going forward in life?
Aside from publishing my book, I have many more books in my heart. I want to preach. I’m looking into ranching bison.
Three days after being released from prison I traveled 24 hours straight from Colorado to Pittsburgh where I now live. That’s where Revival Today Church is. I’m going to serve this man’s vision. I owe him my life for taking care of my family. I’m going to be a part of this national revival. I’m going to play a role in making America great again. I’m not sitting on the sidelines. Give me the ball! It’s go time.
I’m making moves. I’m not staying stagnant. I’m expecting big. I’m preparing to win. I’m possessing the land. I’m putting the work in.
The best is yet to come.
Ethridge concluded the email stating, “If you are interested in having me come speak, you can contact me on social media, or email me at [email protected]. If you want my book I already have a website up where you can pre-order it: www.tylerethridge.com. If you have a book of your own and need a help marketing and publishing it, reach out to rookiepublishing.com. Lisette is great!”
The previous interview with Ethridge after he was charged that appeared at BrownwoodNews.com on July 20, 2022 can be found below: