The sentencing of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio is CANCELLED just 45 minutes before he is due to appear in court and face a 33-year period – the longest of any January 6 rioter
- Tarrio, 39, was due to be sentenced on Wednesday for seditious conspiracy
- But his hearing appears to have been canceled at the last minute along with others
- DOJ spokesman says this is “because of an emergency” and more information to follow
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio’s conviction for his leadership role in the January 6 riot has reportedly been overturned.
Tarrio, 39, of Miami, faces a 33-year prison sentence and was scheduled to hear his fate Wednesday morning in Washington’s federal courthouse.
He was convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases to emerge from the 2021 attack on the US Capitol.
But Justice Department spokesman Patricia Hartman said Tarrio’s proceedings — along with the conviction of his co-conspirators — were canceled at the last minute “because of an emergency,” according to The hill.
It is unclear the nature of the emergency and whether Tarrio’s hearing will be rescheduled for later Wednesday.
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio’s conviction for his part in the January 6 riot reportedly overturned
Tarrio, 39, of Miami, was convicted of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases to emerge from the 2021 attack on the US Capitol (pictured)
A Politico journalist present at the courthouse said a spokesperson confirmed Wednesday morning that there were “some logistical issues” – but that all Proud Boys convictions were about to be rescheduled.
Tarrio’s henchmen Ethan Nordean, 32, of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs, 39, of Ormond Beach, Florida; and Zachary Rehl, 37, of Philadelphia, will also be sentenced this week.
They were convicted by the same jury of conspiracy to block the transfer of presidential power in hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election.
All four were found guilty of seditious conspiracy, a Civil War-era felony that requires prosecutors to prove that two or more people conspired to “overthrow” or otherwise “forcibly destroy” the U.S. government.
Tarrio was not actually in Washington on Jan. 6 because he had been arrested two days earlier in a separate case — but authorities say the far-right propagandist masterminded the violence and encouraged people to participate.
He became the main target of what has become the largest Justice Department investigation in U.S. history.
Tarrio led the neo-fascist group — known for street battles with left-wing activists — when Trump infamously told the Proud Boys to “stand back” during his first debate with Joe Biden.
During the month-long trial, prosecutors argued that the Proud Boys viewed themselves as foot soldiers fighting for Trump, while the Republicans spread lies that the Democrats stole the election from him.
Lawyers argued that members of the group were willing to go to war to keep their favorite leader in power.
Tarrio was convicted in May of conspiracy to block the transfer of presidential power in hopes of keeping Republican Donald Trump in the White House after he lost the 2020 election.
They unleashed a force on the Capitol designed to forcefully exert their political will on elected officials and overturn the results of democratic elections,” the prosecutors wrote in their file.
The foot soldiers of the right tried to keep their leader in power. They failed. They are not heroes; they are criminals.’
The four defendants and co-defendant Dominic Pezzola, 45, of Rochester, New York, were also found guilty of obstruction of official proceedings, conspiracy to prevent members of Congress and federal law enforcement officers from fulfilling their duties, civil disorder and destruction. of government property.
Pezzola was also found guilty of assaulting, resisting or interfering with certain officers and theft involving government property.