Our friend Lee Williams appears to have led a successful fight for justice, which prevailed in the form of a Presidential pardon a few days ago. Here’s the story word for word, from the Second Amendment Foundation:
BELLEVUE, Wash. — Sept. 4, 2026 — In a closely watched and reported-on case by the Second Amendment Foundation’s (SAF) Investigative Journalism Project editor Lee Williams, Patrick “Tate” Adamiak today has been issued a pardon by President Donald Trump. Adamiak was wrongfully arrested, charged and convicted of illegally possessing a toy machinegun after Biden-era Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) agents stormed his house.
Four years ago, Adamiak was arrested and charged with illegally possessing two destructive devices, two inert RPGs that had holes drilled into their receivers and were stripped of internal parts. He was convicted in 2023 and sentenced to more than 20 years in prison after ATF’s “expert” added parts from real RPGs until they would fire a single subcaliber 7.62 x 39mm round. As a result, he classified the RPGs as destructive devices even though the same inert RPGs are still legally sold today without an FFL or any other paperwork. At the time of his arrest, Adamiak was an active-duty Navy E-6 and had been accepted to attend BUD/S (Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training).
“This is the day Tate and his family have fought for since his conviction 2023,” Williams said. “We have reported on this case on almost a weekly basis since his conviction and covered every angle of the story. In no way, shape or form did Tate deserve to be arrested, much less convicted for owning what are considered merely toy firearms. We are extremely thankful the administration saw an opportunity to right a wrong and are grateful Tate is now headed home to be with his family.”
Since first learning about Adamiak’s case, Williams has written more than 60 articles on the lack of evidence, the “expert” testimony presented at his trial and how officials in the Biden-era ATF railroaded an innocent young man to gain a conviction.
“Tate Adamiak endured every gun owner’s worst nightmare for more than four years,” said SAF Executive Director Adam Kraut. “Despite the tenacity of Matthew Larosiere’s representation of Tate during his prosecution and subsequent appeal, the judicial system failed to yield a just decision. Thanks to the tremendous investigative reporting by Lee, this case was brought to the forefront of people’s minds on a continuous basis. While Tate shouldn’t have endured what happened to him in the first place, we are thrilled he has finally received the pardon he deserves.”
For more information, and to read the extensive collection of stories on Adamiak’s plight, visit SAF.org.
AFT!
Yes, Tate has had his /iberty restored. He has NOT yet received ustice. though.
This entire debac/e must be expunged out o his record.
Then the phedera/ goon who p/ayed in his government worqshop and manuphactured a new iem, then decared THIS is what Tate had purchased, needs to be charged with phe/ony pergury in presenting his own contraption as what Tate had purchased /awphu//y.
Next the magistrate that bought the “witness’s” ta/e on the construction prodgect needs to be censured. Being to/d that this bui/d-out, its production described in great detai/, is what Tate had bought over the counter then convicting Tate on such b/atant/y phoney “evidence” is most unprophessiona/.
Absolutely correct and well done.
Tate Adamiak’s conviction is the example that reinforces the cry for the ATF to be disbanded. A federal law enforcement agency (or state, or local) shouldn’t be able to persecute and convict law abiding Americans based on the direction of the political winds. The ATF agents, their supervisors, and the US attorneys involved in this tyranny should face severe consequences, but we know it won’t happen. This is why so many of us are opposed to qualified immunity for law enforcement. I’ve been a supporter of law enforcement my entire life, but there are too many examples of law enforcement manufacturing charges, persecuting innocent citizens, and harassing individuals based on political or personal agendas.