In a significant legal development, former Proud Boys Chairman Enrique Tarrio has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in seditious conspiracy and leading a failed plot related to the January 6, 2021, US Capitol attack. District Judge Timothy Kelly handed down this sentence, marking the longest prison term given to any individual connected to the Capitol attack. Tarrio, once a prominent figure in the Proud Boys organization, stood somberly in the courtroom as his sentence was delivered. This sentencing comes in the wake of three other Proud Boys leaders being found guilty of seditious conspiracy and sentenced just last week.
The Jury’s Verdict on Seditious Conspiracy
Judge Kelly emphasized that the jury’s verdict did not pertain to mere political engagement but rather the conviction of Mr. Tarrio and others for seditious conspiracy. He noted a lack of indications of remorse from Tarrio for his convictions related to seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct the counting of electoral votes. Kelly also underlined Tarrio’s role as the ultimate leader of the conspiracy, describing his motivation as driven by revolutionary zeal.
Impact Beyond Presence
Despite Tarrio not being physically present at the Capitol during the attack, Judge Kelly asserted that he had an outsized impact on the events of that day. This decision, while the longest sentence handed to any January 6 defendant, falls short of the Justice Department’s initial request for a 33-year prison term. Judge Kelly’s sentencing patterns have consistently deviated from the department’s requests for Proud Boys members convicted in this case.
Tarrio’s Apology and Prosecutor’s Critique
Prior to his sentencing, Tarrio offered an apology for the “pain and suffering” caused on January 6 and pledged to distance himself from politics and activism. He emphasized that he was not a political zealot and that inflicting harm or altering the election outcome was not his intention. Prosecutor Conor Mulroe, however, characterized Tarrio as having a “toxic ability to control others” and as the “leader of this conspiracy.” Mulroe argued that Tarrio had played a central role in the events of January 6, with the Proud Boys’ actions being pivotal.
Defending Tarrio
Tarrio’s defense attorney, Sabino Jauregui, vigorously opposed additional terrorism sentencing penalties, stating that it was not Tarrio’s intention to overthrow the government but rather to save the country. Jauregui portrayed Tarrio as a misguided patriot rather than a terrorist, emphasizing his client’s belief that he was safeguarding the nation.
Throughout the trial, prosecutors presented evidence indicating Tarrio’s role in establishing a command structure within the Proud Boys before January 6. Despite not being physically present in Washington, D.C., on that day, Tarrio expressed support for the rioters online and maintained contact with his co-defendants on the ground. This development sheds further light on the complex legal aftermath of the January 6 Capitol attack, with implications for the Proud Boys and their former leader, Enrique Tarrio.