Pardoned Jan. 6 rioter, detained in Canada after seeking asylum here, returns to U.S.

The lawyer for an American man who sought asylum in Canada—and had been detained in B.C. for the last three weeks—says his client has now left the country and returned to the United States. 

Antony Vo was convicted and sentenced to nine months in jail for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Vo's lawyer said in a statement to CBC he was released Thursday morning and has returned to the United States. 

"Mr Vo crossed into the US without any interference," said the statement. "Mr. Vo looks forward to returning to Indiana and reuniting with his family."

The statement also says Vo is inadmissible to Canada for one year under an exclusion order. 

Betting on Trump pardon, convicted Jan. 6 rioter hits the slopes in Canada

28 days ago

Duration 1:48

An American who fled the country after being convicted for his role in the January 6th riot in Washington is now seeking political asylum in Canada. Antony Vo should be serving time in a U.S. federal prison, but instead, he's spending time in the B.C. mountains. He's counting on clemency when Donald Trump returns to the White House.

Vo was supposed to serve his jail time in the U.S. starting last June, but instead sought asylum in Canada from what he said was political persecution—telling CBC News he was hoping U.S. President Donald Trump would pardon him. 

Days later, Vo was arrested in Whistler by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA), and had remained in custody ever since. The agency said it had no record of Vo entering Canada at any official port of entry. 

Last week, Trump granted a sweeping pardon for about 1,500 people charged in the Jan. 6 attack, including Vo. 

Earlier this week, Vo's lawyer said Vo was withdrawing his asylum claim and wanted to go home.