Proud Boys Leader Charged with Conspiracy in Capitol Riot

MAR 8 2022·Updated MAR 10 2022

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Image credit: Getty Images [via NY Times]

The Facts

Henry "Enrique" Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, was arrested on Tuesday on federal criminal charges.
nytimes
He was charged with conspiring with other top lieutenants of the group to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election by helping to plan and launch the breach of the US Capitol.
nytimes
Tarrio is the second leader of a far-right group to face such charges. In Jan. 2022, Stewart Rhodes, the founder and leader of the Oath Keepers, was charged with seditious conspiracy for his role.
nytimes
Tarrio wasn't present at the Jan. 6 riots, but the indictment alleges that he "led the advance planning and remained in contact with other members of the Proud Boys during" the event.
nytimes
The indictment also seemed to point to the possibility of a broader conspiracy, noting a clandestine meeting that Tarrio attended on Jan. 5, 2021 with Rhodes and others involved in the riots.
nytimes

Sources Split

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The Spin

Pro-Trump narrative

There's no longer any doubt that there was a conspiracy, but it was the conspiracy to rig the 2020 presidential election. Now the Proud Boys and other patriots who acted to stop the steal are facing persecution by the Fake News media and partisan DOJ.

American Spectator

Left narrative

"Stand back and stand by" was former President Trump's explicit instruction to the Proud Boys during a 2020 presidential debate against Joe Biden. Every day brings more evidence of the enormity of Trump's plot to undermine American democracy and retain power.