The Justice Department is seeking a 33-year prison sentence for Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys. Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy in relation to the attack on the US Capitol. This case is one of the most serious to emerge from the riot on January 6, 2021. If the sentence is imposed, it would be the longest punishment handed down in the extensive prosecution of the riot. Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, currently holds the longest sentence of 18 years for seditious conspiracy in a separate case.
Tarrio, who previously served as the national chairman of the far-right extremist group, and three of his lieutenants were convicted by a Washington jury in May. They were found guilty of conspiring to block the transfer of presidential power in order to keep then-President Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election.
Despite not being present at the Capitol riot, Tarrio was a primary target of the largest Justice Department investigation in American history. The neo-fascist group, known for their confrontations with left-wing activists, was led by Tarrio when Trump controversially told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during his first debate with Joe Biden. Prosecutors argued during the trial that the Proud Boys saw themselves as foot soldiers fighting for Trump, believing that the election was stolen from him. They were prepared to resort to violence to maintain Trump’s power. Prosecutors stated, “They unleashed a force on the Capitol that was calculated to exert their political will on elected officials by force and to undo the results of a democratic election.”
The prosecutors further emphasized that these individuals are not heroes but criminals. They are seeking a 33-year sentence for Joseph Biggs, one of Tarrio’s co-defendants and a self-proclaimed Proud Boys organizer. Additionally, they are requesting a 30-year prison term for Zachary Rehl, the former president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia, a 27-year sentence for Ethan Nordean, a chapter president from Auburn, Washington, and a 20-year sentence for Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York. Pezzola was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other serious charges.
Although Tarrio was not in Washington on January 6, as he had been previously arrested, prosecutors allege that he organized and directed the attack carried out by the Proud Boys. Defense attorneys argued that there was no conspiracy or plan to attack the Capitol, portraying the Proud Boys as an unorganized drinking club whose members spontaneously participated in the riot due to Trump’s encouragement. Tarrio’s lawyers attempted to shift the blame onto Trump for his provocative speech outside the White House, urging his supporters to “fight like hell.” Tarrio and his co-defendants will face sentencing before the US District Judge Timothy Kelly in a series of hearings later this month in Washington’s federal court.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
