Devendra Kumar
Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys, has been convicted of orchestrating a plot to attack the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. A jury in Washington DC found Tarrio guilty of seditious conspiracy, a charge that carries a prison sentence of up to 20 years. This conviction marks a significant milestone for the Justice Department, which has now secured convictions against the leaders of two major extremist groups accused of attempting to overthrow the government.
Tarrio was a key figure in the Proud Boys, a neo-fascist group known for its violent clashes with left-wing activists. He led the group when Donald Trump famously told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by” during the first presidential debate with Joe Biden. Tarrio was not present at the Capitol on January 6, as he had been arrested two days earlier in a separate case and ordered out of the city.
Despite his absence, Tarrio orchestrated the attack by directing Proud Boys members to storm the Capitol. Prosecutors presented evidence that Tarrio and other Proud Boys members believed themselves to be Trump’s army and were willing to commit violence to stop Biden from becoming president. The group viewed themselves as Trump’s loyalists, who were prepared for “all-out war” to prevent Biden’s inauguration.
Prosecutors based their case on hundreds of messages exchanged by Proud Boys members in the days leading up to January 6, which showed the group spreading false claims about election fraud and expressing fears over what would happen if Biden took office. After the attack, Tarrio cheered on the group’s actions on social media, writing “Do what must be done” and “Make no mistake, we did this.”
Defense lawyers argued that there was no plot to attack the Capitol and that Trump’s words incited the attack. However, prosecutors contended that Tarrio’s actions were the result of a premeditated plan and not simply a response to Trump’s speech.
Tarrio is not the only Proud Boys member to be convicted of seditious conspiracy. Three other group members, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl, were also found guilty of the charge. A fifth defendant, Dominic Pezzola, has yet to reach a unanimous verdict.
This conviction marks a significant step forward in the Justice Department’s efforts to hold accountable those responsible for the January 6 attack. The department has secured convictions against the leaders of two major extremist groups accused of attempting to overthrow the government, and this case sends a clear message that such actions will not be tolerated.