Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives to host six pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionists.

The Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives has previously hosted a range of guests popular in the MAGA movement, including Evan Sayet ("one of America's leading conservative comedians"), commentator Ed Brodow, whose books include The War on Whites: How Hating White People Became the New National Sport, and local attorney Tracy Henderson, founder and president of the parental rights in education organization California Parents United. 

They are set to host six speakers on April 3 billed as "the patriots who spent time in federal prison." The lineup includes six people who served time for their role in the Jan. 6, 2021 insurrection in their attempt to overturn the 2020 election result attempt in Washington, D.C.

"Come show your support," an event flyer reads. "Hear their stories about their experiences as political hostages."

Tickets to the event are $45. A flyer advertised that the event is at Bayonet and Black Horse in Seaside. Calls to the golf course administrative office and to the Association were not immediately returned on Thursday afternoon. But in a statement, Bayonet announced the event was canceled at that venue. 

"While we welcome a diverse range of events at our venue, we take our responsibility to the community seriously and strive to ensure that all gatherings align with the values and standards of our business," according to the cancellation announcement. "Our event agreement allows us to cancel any event that is not suitable for our venue."

It is not immediately clear if the event will relocate to another venue. All six advertised speakers live in various parts of California. 

The speakers advertised include Jeffrey Brown of Santa Ana, who was sentenced to over four years in prison after a jury found him guilty for charges connected to the use of pepper spray against Capitol Police, according to news reports. 

Sean McHugh of Auburn was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison for his role in the initial breach of the Capitol grounds, and at least four attempts to breach official perimeters, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. "After the riot, McHugh posted multiple messages on Facebook bragging about his actions during the riot and reveling in the violence against police, boasting, '…we stormed them and we took Congress,'” according to the DOJ.

James McGrew from Carlsbad pleaded guilty to assaulting law enforcement officers based on a series of confrontations, according to the DOJ: "He was part of a crowd that overwhelmed law enforcement officers attempting to prevent rioters from advancing further on the restricted grounds. He proceeded to an area outside the Upper West Terrace doors to the Capitol Building. He filmed the scene, shouting 'let’s go' approximately 14 times, and 'we took this thing.'” He was sentenced to six-and-a-half years in prison.

Edward Badalian of Panorama City was sentenced to over four years in prison for two felony charges and one misdemeanor, according to the DOJ. He and others created a Telegram group chat titled PATRIOTS45MAGA Gang, which U.S. attorneys say eventually became a forum to plan violence against the government. Among other messages, Badalian wrote in the Telegram group: “If they're guilty of treason they should be executed…Biden is definitely guilty of treason."

Jorge Riley is a Sacramento man who served 13 months in prison of an 18-month sentence. In a plea agreement, Riley admitted to entering the Capitol and pleaded guilty to one count of obstructing an official proceeding, according to news reports. He was released early from prison based on a Supreme Court ruling narrowing the definition of obstructing an official proceeding to apply only to cases where people tampered with or destroyed documents or other materials. 

Daniel Goodwyn, who identifies as a Proud Boy member, was elected in 2024 as president of the San Francisco chapter of the California Republican Assembly, according to news reports. He was sentenced to 60 days in prison after pleading guilty to one count of entering or remaining in a restricted building. Prosecutors said he used a bullhorn to incite other rioters that day, saying things like, "We need critical mass for this to work."