Former Proud Boys Leader Sentenced for Role in Capitol Attack
WASHINGTON (AP) — Enrique Tarrio, the former national leader of the Proud Boys, is set to be sentenced on Wednesday for his involvement in a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the 2020 presidential election. The sentencing marks one of the most significant prosecutions in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.
Prosecutors are seeking a 33-year prison sentence for Tarrio, who had already been arrested and ordered to leave Washington, D.C. by the time Proud Boys members joined thousands of Trump supporters in storming the Capitol. However, prosecutors argue that Tarrio organized and led the group’s assault from afar, using his charisma and propaganda to inspire followers.
Tarrio was a key target in one of the most important Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the Justice Department. In May, he and three lieutenants were convicted of charges including seditious conspiracy, a rarely brought Civil War-era offense. The Justice Department used this charge against members of far-right groups who played a significant role in the Jan. 6 attack.
Prosecutors wrote in a court filing, “Using his powerful platform, Tarrio has repeatedly and publicly indicated that he has no regrets about what he helped make happen on January 6.”
The Justice Department has also recently charged Donald Trump with conspiring to subvert American democracy, accusing him of plotting to overturn the election results. The Tarrio case, along with hundreds of others, serves as a reminder of the violent chaos fueled by Trump’s false claims about the election and the extent to which his rhetoric inspired right-wing extremists.
Trump, who is currently the Republican frontrunner for the 2024 nomination, maintains his innocence. His trial is scheduled for March 4.
Prosecutors have recommended a 33-year prison sentence for Tarrio, nearly twice as long as the harshest punishment handed down so far in the Jan. 6 prosecution. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly will have the final say on Tarrio’s sentence, as well as the separate sentencing of former Proud Boys chapter leader Ethan Nordean.
Tarrio, Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl were all convicted of seditious conspiracy. Another Proud Boys member, Dominic Pezzola, was acquitted of seditious conspiracy but convicted of other serious charges.
Tarrio’s lawyers have denied that the Proud Boys had any plan to attack the Capitol, arguing that Tarrio is being used as a scapegoat for Trump. They emphasized Tarrio’s history of cooperating with law enforcement and urged the judge to consider his positive contributions to the community.
More than 1,100 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol attack, with over 600 already sentenced to terms of imprisonment.
The sentencing of Tarrio and other Proud Boys members serves as a stark reminder of the violent consequences of the Jan. 6 attack and the ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable.
Associated Press writer Eric Tucker contributed to this report.
How does the Justice Department’s use of the charge of seditious conspiracy against Enrique Tarrio and other far-right group members in the January 6th attack compare to its historical usage since the Civil War era
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, is facing sentencing on Wednesday for his role in the failed plot to maintain Donald Trump’s presidency following the 2020 election. This sentencing is considered one of the most significant in relation to the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
The prosecution is requesting a 33-year prison sentence for Tarrio, who had already been arrested and ordered to leave Washington, D.C. when Proud Boys members participated in storming the Capitol alongside Trump supporters. Prosecutors argue that Tarrio orchestrated and led the group’s assault from a distance, using his charismatic persona and propaganda to incite his followers.
Tarrio was a prominent figure in a crucial case prosecuted by the Justice Department linked to the Capitol riot. In May, he and three of his lieutenants were convicted of various charges, including seditious conspiracy, which is a seldom-used offense dating back to the Civil War era. This charge has been employed by the Justice Department against far-right group members who had a substantial role in the January 6th attack.
Prosecutors stated in a court filing, “Utilizing his influential platform,
