Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio is set to be sentenced on Wednesday for a failed plot to keep Donald Trump in power after the Republican lost the 2020 presidential election, capping one of the most significant prosecutions in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Prosecutors are seeking 33 years behind bars for Tarrio, who had already been arrested and ordered to leave Washington, D.C., by the time Proud Boys members joined thousands of Trump supporters in storming the Capitol as lawmakers met to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s 2020 electoral victory. But prosecutors say Tarrio organized and led the group’s assault from afar, inspiring followers with his charisma and penchant for propaganda.

Tarrio was a top target in one of the most important Capitol riot cases prosecuted by the Justice Department. He and three lieutenants were convicted in May of charges including seditious conspiracy — a rarely brought Civil War-era offense that the Justice Department levied against members of far-right groups who played a key role in the Jan. 6 attack.

  • rambaroo@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Have you actually read about what the proud boys did? They didn’t just show up to protest. They had weapons and bombs cached outside the city and were fully prepared to take violent action against the Senate on Jan. 6th

    Letting these people off easy is how you get fascism. Hitler got a slap on the wrist for the beer hall putsch and it just encouraged him even more. These people are actual traitors who don’t deserve your mercy.

    • ShittyRedditWasBetter@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Again, that was only a portion of the crowd. Those that have provable pre-meditated conspirial plans would be tried with intent and a harsher penalty as defined in most codes. Ianal so the actual fed charging standards may differ from the state ones that work that way where I have awareness.