In a groundbreaking ruling that sent shockwaves through the nation, former Proud Boys national chairman Henry “Enrique” Tarrio was handed a 22-year sentence on September 5, 2023.
The sentence, delivered by District Judge Tim Kelly, a Trump appointee, is in connection with a plot to attack the U.S. Capitol on January 6.
Tarrio, 39, was found guilty of seditious conspiracy among other charges. Interestingly, Tarrio was not present in Washington during the riot on January 6, 2021. He was arrested and ordered to leave the city before the unrest began.
This fact raises questions about the nature of the charges and the severity of the sentence.
The leader of the Proud Boys got 22 years in prison for J6 and he wasn’t even there
Does this mean we can start imprisoning BLM’s leaders for what happened during the summer of 2020? pic.twitter.com/hcNpksmEdq
— DC_Draino (@DC_Draino) September 5, 2023
The 22-year sentence is less than the 33-year sentence sought by prosecutors but still stands as the longest of any Jan. 6 defendant.
This sparked debates about the fairness of the judicial process, especially considering that three other Proud Boys leaders who were convicted alongside Tarrio received sentences ranging from 15 to 18 years.
Among those sentenced were Zach Rehl, Joe Biggs, and Ethan Nordean, who received 15, 17, and 18 years respectively. These sentences were handed down last week, following their conviction by a Washington jury on the rarely used sedition charge.
Ethan Nordean, another leader of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 18 years in prison over the U.S. Capitol attack. This equals the longest punishment in the case so far.
In a dramatic courtroom scene, another member, sentenced to 10 years, yelled “Trump won” as he left court.
NEW: Former Proud Boys head Enrique Tarrio was sentenced to 22 years in prison for "seditious conspiracy."
We also found out today that the FBI purposely leaked false information to the NYT to protect the Biden family from bombshell bribery allegations.
The FBI then used this… pic.twitter.com/DZspiRqlcN
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 5, 2023
Nordean expressed remorse in a statement to the judge, calling Jan. 6 a “complete and utter tragedy.” He claimed he went to the Capitol to be a leader and to keep people out of trouble. His wife and sister pleaded for mercy, adding a human element to this high-profile case.
Dominic Pezzola, another member of the Proud Boys, was convicted of felonies including obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting police.
Despite not playing a leadership role, Pezzola was sentenced to 10 years in prison. He echoed the sentiments of his fellow members, yelling, “Trump won!” as he left the courtroom.
This case undoubtedly set a precedent, with the severity of the sentences raising eyebrows across the nation. As we continue to grapple with the aftermath of January 6, it’s clear the legal repercussions are far from over.
