The Department of Justice charged the former leader of the Proud Boys and four other members with seditious conspiracy in connection to the U.S. Capitol breach on Jan. 6, 2021.
With Monday’s charges, the Justice Department appears to be taking a more aggressive stance against the Proud Boys. It’s the first allegation by federal prosecutors that the right-wing group attempted to oppose the presidential transfer of power during the Jan. 6 Joint Session of Congress.
Proud Boys’ former leader Enrique Tarrio and four others—Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola—were charged, officials said. Tarrio wasn’t in Washington D.C. during the protests on Jan. 6. But he was arrested in Washington two days prior and charged with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a church; he was released from jail on Jan. 14 after a 5-month sentence….