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A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 5 May 2023

Proud Boys’ Tarrio guilty of Jan. 6 seditious conspiracy

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN, Congress’ certification of
LINDSAY WHITEHURST and Biden’s win. A lawyer for
ALANNA DURKIN RICHER Tarrio sought to push the
Associated Press blame onto Trump, argu-
WASHINGTON (AP) — For- ing the former president in-
mer Proud Boys leader En- cited the pro-Trump mob’s
rique Tarrio and three other attack when he urged
members of the far-right the crowd near the White
extremist group were con- House to “fight like hell.”
victed Thursday of a plot “It was Donald Trump’s
to attack the U.S. Capitol words. It was his motiva-
in a desperate bid to keep tion. It was his anger that
Donald Trump in power af- caused what occurred on
ter the Republican lost the January 6th in your beau-
2020 presidential election. tiful and amazing city,” at-
A jury in Washington, D.C., torney Nayib Hassan said
found Tarrio and three lieu- in his final appeal to jurors.
tenants guilty of seditious “It was not Enrique Tarrio.
conspiracy after hearing They want to use Enrique
from dozens of witness- Tarrio as a scapegoat for
es over more than three Donald J. Trump and those
months in one of the most in power.”
serious cases brought in the The Justice Department
stunning attack that un- hadn’t tried a seditious
folded on Jan. 6, 2021, as conspiracy case in a de-
the world watched on live cade before a jury convict-
TV. In this Jan. 6, 2021 photo, Proud Boys members Ethan Nordean, left, Zachary Rehl and Joseph ed another extremist group
Jurors cleared a fifth de- Biggs walk toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington, in support of President Donald Trump. leader, Oath Keepers
Associated Press
fendant Dominic Pezzola founder Stewart Rhodes,
of the sedition charge, The verdict comes after a Biden. ment. of the Civil War-era charge
though he was convicted trial that took more than Tarrio wasn’t in Washington Prosecutors told jurors the last year.
of other serious felonies. twice as long as originally on Jan. 6, because he had group viewed itself as Over the course of two
The judge excused the jury expected, slowed by bick- been arrested two days “Trump’s army” and was Oath Keepers trials, Rhodes
without delivering a verdict ering, mistrial motions and earlier in a separate case prepared for “all-out war” and five other members
on some counts includ- revelations of government and ordered out of the to stop Biden from becom- were convicted of seditious
ing another conspiracy informants in the group. capital city. ing president. conspiracy for what pros-
charge for Pezzola after ju- Securing the conviction of But prosecutors said he or- The Proud Boys were “lined ecutors said was a sepa-
rors failed to reach a unani- Tarrio, a high-profile leader ganized and directed the up behind Donald Trump rate plot to forcibly halt
mous decision. who wasn’t at the riot it- attack by Proud Boys who and willing to commit vio- the transfer of presidential
It’s a significant milestone self, could embolden the stormed the Capitol that lence on his behalf,” pros- power from Trump to Biden.
for the Justice Department, Justice Department as a day. ecutor Conor Mulroe said Three defendants were
which has now secured se- special counsel investi- In addition to Tarrio, a Mi- in his closing argument. acquitted of the sedition
ditious conspiracy convic- gates Trump, including key ami resident, three other The backbone of the gov- charge, but convicted of
tions against the leaders of aspects of the Jan. 6 insur- Proud Boys were convict- ernment’s case was hun- obstructing Congress’ certi-
two major extremist groups rection. ed of seditious conspiracy: dreds of messages ex- fication of Biden’s electoral
prosecutors say were intent Special Counsel Jack Smith Ethan Nordean, Joseph changed by Proud Boys in victory.
on keeping Democratic in recent weeks has sought Biggs and Zachary Rehl. the days leading up to Jan. The Justice Department has
President Joe Biden out of the testimony of many Tarrio, Nordean, Biggs and 6 that show the far-right yet to disclose how much
the White House at all costs. people close to Trump. Rehl were also convicted of extremist group peddling prison time it will seek when
The charge carries a prison They include former Vice obstructing Congress’ certi- Trump’s false claims of a the Oath Keepers are sen-
sentence of up to 20 years. President Mike Pence, who fication of Biden’s electoral stolen election and trad- tenced later this month.q
“The Justice Department testified before a grand victory and obstructing law ing fears over what would
will never stop working to jury last week, likely giving enforcement as well as two happen when Biden took
defend the democracy to prosecutors a key first-per- other conspiracy charges. office.
which all Americans are son account about certain The four were cleared of an As Proud Boys swarmed
entitled,” Attorney General conversations and events assault charge stemming the Capitol, Tarrio cheered
Merrick Garland told re- in the weeks preceding the from Pezzola, who stole an them on from afar, writing
porters after the verdict. riot. officer’s riot shield. on social media: “Do what
Tarrio, behind bars since his Tarrio was a top target of The judge told jurors to must be done.” In a Proud
March 2022 arrest, didn’t what has become the larg- keep deliberating on a few Boys encrypted group chat
appear to show any emo- est Justice Department remaining counts where later that day someone
tion as the verdict was investigation in American they haven’t reached asked what they should do
read. He hugged one of history. agreement. next. Tarrio responded: “Do
his lawyers and shook the He led the neo-fascist Rehl’s attorney, Carmen it again.”
hand of the other before group known for street Hernandez, said her client “Make no mistake,” Tarrio
leaving the courtroom. A fights with left-wing activ- “continues to maintain his wrote in another message.
few of the people sitting ists when Trump infamous- innocence.” Lawyers for “We did this.”
among the defendants’ ly told the Proud Boys to Biggs and Pezzola declined Defense lawyers denied
relatives wiped away tears “stand back and stand by” to comment. An attorney there was any plot to at-
as the verdict was read. during his first debate with for Tarrio declined to com- tack the Capitol or stop