Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio sentenced to 22 years for Jan. 6 Capitol Riot
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Tarrio had been facing charges of seditious conspiracy and other counts related to the attack, but before his trial, he had expressed interest in reaching a plea deal with prosecutors. However, instead of discussing potential prison time, Tarrio claims that prosecutors focused on trying to establish a link between him and former President Donald Trump.
During a recent phone interview with The Washington Post from the D.C. jail, Tarrio recounted how prosecutors showed him messages he had exchanged with someone who was connected to a third party, who in turn, had allegedly been linked to Trump. Tarrio refused to provide names and maintained that he had no knowledge of the third person. Despite these efforts, the trial failed to establish a direct connection between the Proud Boys and Trump, beyond the former president’s comments during a presidential debate in which he told the group to “stand back and stand by.”
Tarrio asserted that the prosecutors were not interested in the truth but rather in pressuring him into signing an agreement that contained false information. Following the unsuccessful attempt to reach a deal, Tarrio and four other members of the Proud Boys went to trial, where Tarrio and three of his lieutenants were convicted of seditious conspiracy and obstructing an official proceeding. Tarrio received the longest sentence imposed on any individual involved in the Jan. 6 riot.
Prosecutors frequently meet with defendants before trials in the hopes of securing cooperation and obtaining valuable information. The U.S. attorney’s office in Washington declined to comment on any pre-trial discussions with Tarrio. It is worth noting that while Trump has faced charges related to attempting to subvert the election, he has not been specifically charged for inciting the Jan. 6 riot and denies any involvement.
Tarrio maintains that he should not have been charged or convicted of leading the Jan. 6 insurrection, claiming that he did not condone the actions of his co-defendant, Dominic Pezzola, who received a 10-year sentence for breaking a Capitol window. Tarrio argues that he thought there would only be a rally on Jan. 6 and claims that he did not communicate any specific instructions that day. However, he did post on Parler, a social media platform, urging his fellow Proud Boys not to leave while they were inside the Capitol.
Tarrio was a member of a Telegram message group called “Ministry of Self-Defense,” along with other Proud Boys, including Joe Biggs and Ethan Nordean. The chat included calls for revolution, and Tarrio played an active role in the discussions and organization leading up to Jan. 6. Judge Timothy J. Kelly, who presided over the trial, described Tarrio as the “ultimate leader” of the conspiracy.
During his sentencing hearing, Tarrio expressed regret for the events of Jan. 6, stating that he did not believe the election was stolen but was willing to support his members. He also claimed that he did not take the stand in his defense out of fear of being questioned on unrelated matters that could have negatively impacted his case.
Judge Kelly emphasized the extent of the damage caused by the attack on Capitol and the injuries sustained by law enforcement officers. He described Tarrio as the key figure behind the conspiracy and highlighted his motivation for revolutionary change.