WASHINGTON (CN) — Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio was arrested on Tuesday after being indicted on a conspiracy charge in connection with the right-wing extremist plot to overthrow America's government last year.
Tarrio, 38, was arrested in Miami this morning after a superseding indictment dated Monday charged him and five other members of his right-wing extremist group with conspiring to obstruct Congress’ certification of the 2020 presidential election. Tarrio and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes are two of the highest-profile people to face Capitol riot charges.
Although he did not physically breach the Capitol building where a ceremony to confirm the election results was underway on Jan. 6, 2021, the indictment says Tarrio “led the advance planning and remained in contact with other members of the Proud Boys during their breach of the Capitol.”
Two days before the insurrection, Tarrio was arrested on Jan. 4 and charged with destruction of property related to his burning of a Black Lives Matter banner during a rally in Washington by supporters of former President Donald Trump.
After he pleaded guilty to burning the banner and to attempted possession of a high-capacity ammunition magazine, Tarrio was released on the eve of Jan. 6 and court-ordered to stay out of Washington.
“The indictment alleges that Tarrio nonetheless continued to direct and encourage the Proud Boys prior to and during the events of Jan. 6, 2021, and that he claimed credit for what had happened on social media and in an encrypted chat room during and after the attack,” the Justice Department said in a press release.
Tarrio's latest indictment charges him with one count conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, and two counts each of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers and destruction of government property.
Also named in the superseding indictment are Ethan Nordean, 31, of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs, 38, of Ormond Beach, Florida; Zachary Rehl, 36, of Philadelphia; Charles Donohoe, 34, of Kernersville, North Carolina; and Dominic Pezzola, 44, of Rochester, New York.
Tarrio is set to make his initial appearance on Monday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
He is among more than 750 people who have been charged so far in connection with the Capitol riot.
Follow @EmilyZantowNews
Subscribe to Closing Arguments
Sign up for new weekly newsletter Closing Arguments to get the latest about ongoing trials, major litigation and hot cases and rulings in courthouses around the U.S. and the world.
