Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in orchestrating the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Gatekeepers News reports that US District Court Judge Timothy Kelly, Tuesday, handed Tarrio the sentence which is the longest so far in connection with the Capitol attack.
Tarrio was the national chairman of the Proud Boys, a far-right group founded in 2016, and has been in jail since his arrest last year
Tarrio, 39, was not present in Washington during the riot but played a significant role in organizing the far-right group’s participation.
Prosecutors described him as a “naturally charismatic leader” and the “primary organizer” of the conspiracy that led to the attack. He was convicted of seditious conspiracy, a rarely used charge related to planning to overthrow the government, along with multiple other counts.
During his sentencing hearing, Tarrio apologised to police and residents of Washington, D.C., for his role in the riot. He said he was “extremely ashamed and disappointed” that they were caused grief and suffering and admitted that he had been his “own worst enemy.” He asked for mercy from the judge.
He argued that he was a “keyboard ninja” and a “misguided patriot” who tended to “talk trash” but had no intention of overthrowing the government.
The investigation into the Capitol attack has led to more than 1,100 arrests and charges. It was carried out by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, who continues to deny the results of the 2020 election and has promised to pardon many of the rioters if re-elected in 2024.
This sentencing marks the last in a series of hearings for the leaders of the Capitol riot. Notably, Ethan Nordean, another Proud Boy, and Stewart Rhodes, founder of the Oath Keepers, a far-right militia, were sentenced to 18 years in prison.
Several other Proud Boys received sentences ranging from 10 to 17 years. The investigation is still ongoing, with the FBI actively seeking to locate 14 rioters captured on video assaulting law enforcement officers or members of the media.
BBC
