“Tarrio was the main leader of that conspiracy,” Judge Timothy Kelly ruled.
Thus, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, 39, former leader of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to 22 years in prison for organize the assault on the Capitol United States on January 6, 2021.
This is the longest sentence imposed so far on one of the leaders of the assault on the headquarters of Congress, an incident for which more than 1,100 people have been detained.
Although Tarrio was not in Washington DC during the riots but in a hotel in Baltimore, 70 kilometers from the events, the court determined that helped organize the participation of the far-right group he led.
Tarrio apologized to police and city residents for his role in the 2021 riots before learning his fate on Tuesday.
“I am extremely ashamed and disappointed that I have caused you grief and suffering. I will have to live with that shame for the rest of my life.”
Tarrio, dressed in an orange jail uniform, added: “I was my own worst enemy. My arrogance convinced me that I was a victim“He said about the attack that left five people dead, including a policeman.
Tuesday’s was the latest in a series of sentencing hearings for those responsible for the uprising.
Trump promised to pardon most if he is re-elected president in 2024.
Who is Henry “Enrique” Tarrio?
Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, of Cuban parents, was born 39 years ago in Miami, Florida.
Tarrio grew up in Little Havana and ventured into the world of businesses linked to the security and surveillance sector, according to what he himself told the portal Ballotpedia when he ran for the 2020 election.
In the years of Donald Trump’s presidency, he adopted the Republican as his idol.
He was the state director in Florida of the group Latinos for Trump and made one attempt to run in the Republican Party primary for a Florida congressional seat, though he withdrew before the election.
That seat is occupied by María Elvira Salazar, from the most conservative wing of the Republican Party and daughter of Cuban parents exiled in Miami.
Tarrio was the national president of the far-right group Los Proud Boys. Members of the organization founded in New York in 2016 have described themselves as an all-male drinking club.
The members of this group they considered themselves soldiers of Trump. They often clashed with far-left activists on the streets.
In the protests in the US capital prior to the attack on the Capitol, Tarrio was photographed wearing a bulletproof vest.
Tarrio’s attorney argued in court Tuesday that his client is a “keyboard ninja” who tends to “talk trash” but had no intention of overthrowing the government.
“My client is not a terrorist. My client is a misguided patriot“said his lawyer, Sabino Jáuregui.
Acknowledging that former President Donald Trump had lost the November 2020 presidential election, Tarrio explained Tuesday: “I’m not a fan of politics. It was not my goal to cause any damage or change the results of the elections.”
why was he sentenced
Tarrio was declared guilty of seditious conspiracya crime from the American Civil War era.
“Seditious conspiracy is a felony,” Judge Kelly said.
Tarrio was also found guilty in May of charges of obstruction and collusion, civil disorder and destruction of government property.
The prosecution had described his actions as “calculated act of terrorism”, deserving of a sentence of 33 years in prison. The defense did not want more than 15 years.
Tarrio remained silent as the judge handed down the sentence. As he left the room, Tarrio greeted his relatives in the public gallery and showed a peace sign.
His lawyers said he plans to appeal.
Following the 2020 election, Tarrio and other Proud Boys posted threatening messages online, warning of violence and riots if Trump left office.
Two days before the riot at the Capitol, he was arrested by police on a warrant charging him with burn a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a church about three weeks earlier.
A high-capacity ammunition magazine, illegal under city gun laws, was also found on him.
At that time, he was released on bail and ordered to leave the country’s capital.
He went to Baltimore.
On January 6, 2021, as Trump supporters besieged Congress, Tarrio posted online that he was “enjoying the show.”
“Do what needs to be done” wrote.
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See original article on BBC