Proud Boys Head Detained Pending Trial Over Capitol Riot

Topline

A federal judge in Miami ordered that Enrique Tarrio, a former leader of the far-right Proud Boys, be held in jail without bail while he awaits trial on charges related to the January 6 Capitol riots, which prosecutors allege Tarrio played a key role in coordinating.

MIAMI, FLORIDA – MAY 25: Enrique Tarrio (C), leader of the Proud Boys, uses a megaphone while … [+] counter-protesting people gathered at the Torch of Friendship to commemorate the one year anniversary of the killing of George Floyd on May 25, 2021 in Miami, Florida. Mr. Tarrio lead a group to the area to express their support of police officers. Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin sparked global protest and continues to spur the Black Lives Matter movement. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

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Key Facts

Federal prosecutors asked Monday that Tarrio, one of the more notable names awaiting trial in relation to the Capitol riots, be detained as he poses a flight risk and could obstruct justice in the case, according to Reuters.

The Justice Department said it had evidence of message exchanges between Tarrio and other Proud Boys in December 2020 in which Tarrio sought to recruit them for a new chapter of the group called the Ministry of Self Defense.

Tarrio’s attorney told Reuters and other reporters outside the courtroom Tuesday that he believes the prosecution has little evidence of Tarrio’s involvement in the riots, claiming he left Washington the day before the riots took place.

Tarrio was arrested in Washington on January 4 and served four months in prison for burning a Black Lives Matter banner in December, according to Reuters.

Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/masonbissada/2022/03/15/proud-boys-head-detained-pending-trial-over-capitol-riot/