2023-09-05 22:09:43
He is not a “political fanatic,” Tarrio said in an emotional speech in court on Tuesday. “It wasn’t my goal to do harm or change the election results,” he continued. “I didn’t think it would even be possible to change the election results.” Tarrio said he no longer wanted to have anything to do with “politics, movements, activism or rallies”.
The judge remarked in sentencing, “A seditious conspiracy is a serious offense… Mr. Tarrio was the ultimate mastermind of that conspiracy,” Kelly said. “That day broke our previously unbroken tradition of peaceful transfers of power,” the judge said.
Biggest penalty so far
It is the highest penalty to date in connection with the storming of the Capitol. However, Judge Kelly, who was nominated for the bench by ex-President Donald Trump, sentenced Tarrio and his co-defendants to far shorter prison terms than prosecutors demanded.
The Justice Department demanded that the 39-year-old serve more than three decades in prison. Tarrio was not in Washington on the day of the Capitol storm – January 6, 2021: he was arrested two days earlier on another case. According to the public prosecutor’s office, he played a decisive role in the incidents.
“Tarrio has repeatedly and publicly expressed that he has no regrets for what he made possible on January 6,” prosecutors wrote in court documents. Tarrio, originally from Miami, was due to be sentenced in federal court in Washington last week. However, his hearing was delayed because US District Judge Kelly fell ill.
Long prison sentences for key leaders
In recent days, several Proud Boys leaders have been convicted in connection with the storming of the US Capitol in January 2021. Former soldier Joe Biggs, whom prosecutors have described as one of the central figures in the “seditious conspiracy”, was serving a 17-year sentence. Prosecutors had asked for 33 years in prison. “Proud Boy” Zachary Rehl, also charged with conspiracy, received a 15-year prison sentence. Prosecutors had asked for 30 years in prison for him.
Ethan Nordean was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday (local time) for “seditious conspiracy”, among other things. During the trial, investigators named him as the instigator of the violent march on the US Houses of Parliament on January 6, 2021.
Another violent “Proud Boys” participant in the protests, who among other things smashed a large window in the Capitol, was sentenced to 10 years in prison on Friday. According to the US media, Dominic Pezzola chanted “Trump won!” as he left the court. A few months ago, the founder of the right-wing militia “Oath Keepers”, Stewart Rhodes, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for storming the Capitol.
Five dead in Capitol storm
On January 6, 2021, supporters of the then US President Trump stormed the Capitol in Washington. They wanted to prevent Congress from finally confirming Democrat Biden’s victory in the November 2020 presidential election that day. Among the attackers were members of the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers. Five people died in the storming of the Capitol.
Trump is accused of inciting his supporters in a speech just before. The right-wing populist denies all allegations and sees any legal action once morest him as an attempt by his opponents to prevent him from moving back into the White House.
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