Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio plead not guilty to felony charges brought against him as part of investigations right into the riots of Jan. 6, 2021. Tarrio is the leader of the Proud Boys, a fraternal organization dubiously labeled “a right-wing extremist group with a violent agenda” by the ADL. He was indicted in March on charges consisting of conspiracy to block an official proceeding and was jailed in Miami. He was ordered to stay in the federal government’s custody while he awaits trial.
Further charges consist of two counts each of assaulting, resisting or impeding police, one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as one matter of destruction of federal government property.
Prosecutors allege the 38-year-old, as well as his advocates, developed a group called the “Ministry of Self Defense” as well as plotted to prevent the US Congress from certifying the result of the 2020 Presidential election.
“This group was to form the nucleus of leadership in a new chapter of the Proud Boys organization, which Tarrio described as a ‘national rally planning’ chapter,” wrote prosecutors in the indictment. “The first event targeted by the group was the rally in D.C. on January 6.”
Tarrio was not at the Capitol throughout the Jan. 6 security breach.
At a U.S. District Court hearing in Washington on April 5, Tarrio entered his plea while appearing virtually.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Luke Jones said at the hearing the federal government needed to deal with experts from Quantico to access Tarrio’s confiscated cellular phone.
“The government was not able to get into the phone; law enforcement that is,” Jones said
“How believable is this?” asked an attorney representing one of Tarrio’s co-defendants.
USA Today reported that Tarrio has actually previously cooperated with federal authorities at the expense of some of his partnerships with fellow Proud Boys and also which led to a division within the organization.
Five co-defendants associated with the Proud Boys have likewise been charged in connection with the government’s inquest.
Joseph Biggs, Charles Donohoe, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl, and also Dominic Pezzola pleaded innocent last month.
“One member of the group, Matthew Greene, pleaded guilty in December to one count of conspiracy and one count of obstructing an official proceeding and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors,” reports The Hill.
During the hearing, attorneys representing the men asked Judge Timothy Kelly to postpone the trial as a result of the delay in Tarrio’s arrest and requested their client be released from federal custody before the trial, per Business Insider.
Judge Kelly declined to free the accused however did decide to delay the trial.
The trial is currently set up for May 18. Tarrio could be punished to serve up to 20 years if found guilty. All parties will return to court on April 21.
H/T Timcast
