Former national chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, has been charged with conspiracy for the U.S. Capitol attack last year, according to The New York Times. Tarrio is the second leader of a far-right group to face charges related to the attack in recent months.
1.
As stated in a press release from the Department of Justice, Tarrio is named in an indictment alongside other Proud Boys leaders, including Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Charles Donohoe and Dominic Pezzola. All but Tarrio were previously detained and pleaded not guilty to the charges. Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers militia, was charged with “seditious conspiracy” and “corruptly obstructing an official proceeding,” the DOJ stated in a press release.
2.
The 38-year-old was arrested in Miami and is set to make his initial appearance in court on Tuesday, March 8, in the Southern District of Florida. According to the DOJ press release, the indictment alleges that Tarrio and his co-defendants conspired to obstruct the certification of the Electoral College vote.
3.
Tarrio, however, was not present for the Jan. 6 attacks; the Proud Boys’ leader was arrested two days earlier for allegedly vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a Black church in Washington, D.C., after a pro-Trump rally in Dec. 2020. At the time, Tarrio was charged with carrying two high-capacity rifle magazines, and was ordered by a judge to leave the city as part of his release agreement.
4.
Despite not being at the Capitol during the insurrection, prosecutors believe that Tarrio ordered Proud Boys members to be dressed “incognito” when they arrived in Washington on the day of the attack. He also allegedly took part in a private Telegram group chat as several leaders and members of the Proud Boys stormed the Capitol.
