Proud Boys sentencing hearing cancelled for ex leader Enrique Tarrio ‘due to emergency’: Live

Alex Woodward and Ariana Baio

Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio’s sentencing was cancelled today and rescheduled until 5 September, the Justice Department announced.

Tarrio has been found guilty of seditious conspiracy in one of the most serious cases stemming from the Janaury 6 attack, when a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters breached the halls of Congress to prevent Joe Biden’s election victory.

Tarrio is now among four members of the self-described “Western chauvinist” gang facing decades in prison after they were found guilty in May of seditious conspiracy and other charges.

Prosecutors are seeking 33 years in prison for Tarrio and Joe Biggs, what would be the longest sentences from the hundreds of cases related to the attack. The longest sentence thus far was handed to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison.

Fellow Proud Boys Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola also could faced 20 to 30 years in prison at their sentencing hearings.

Prosecutors have said the men “organised and directed a force of nearly 200 to attack the heart of our democracy” and “intentionally positioned themselves at the vanguard of political violence in this country.”

Key points

The re-scheduled Proud Boys sentencing hearings

16:29 , Alex Woodward

After a last-minute scramble, several highly anticipated federal prison sentencing hearings for members of the Proud Boys who have been convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges have been rescheduled.

The new schedule is as follows:

Joe Biggs will be sentenced at 10am on 31 August. Prosecutors are seeking 33 years in prison. Zachary Rehl will be sentenced at 2pm. Prosecutors are seeking 30 years in prison.

Dominic Pezzola will be sentenced at 10am on 1 September. Prosecutors are seeking 20 years in prison. Ethan Nordean will be sentenced at 2pm. Prosecutors are seeking 27 years in prison.

Tarrio will be sentenced at 2pm on 5 September. Prosecutors are seeking 33 years in prison.

Those sentences would be the longest yet among the hundreds of defendants in January 6 cases.

The longest sentence thus far was applied to Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, who was sentenced to 18 years in prison after he was convicted of seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors initially sought 25 years.

Sentencing cancellation not due to emergency

16:00 , Ariana Baio

A spokesperson for the federal courthouse in Washington DC where Proud Boys ex-leader Enrique Tarrio and Ethan Nordean were expected to be sentenced said that there was no emergency despite the earlier statement.

The Department of Justice claimed the two men’s sentencing hearts were postponed “due to an emergency” but that was not the case.

Instead, the judge presiding over the case, Us District Judge Tim Kelly, appeared to be out sick.

Enrique Tarrio sentencing rescheduled for 5 September

15:47 , Ariana Baio

The Department of Justice issued a notice of hearing rescheduling Enrique Tarrio’s sentencing from today until 5 September at 2pm.

Ethan Nordean’s hearing has been rescheduled from today until 1 September at 2pm.

Both hearings will be presided over by Judge Timothy Kelly.

Who is Enrique Tarrio?

15:30 , Ariana Baio

Two days before a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, the now-former leader of a neo-fascist gang was arrested in Washington DC shortly after stepping off a plane from Miami.

Enrique Tarrio was wanted by police after he admitted to tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter flag outside a historically Black church in the nation’s capital during December riots connected to a protest supporting then-President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

On 6 January, 2021, Tarrio watched the insurrection unfold from a hotel in Baltimore.

Before his arrest two days earlier, Tarrio wrote to his lieutenant: “Whatever happens … make it a spectacle.”

Read more here:

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest January 6 prison sentence

Sentencing cancellation ‘emergency’ may be specific to Proud Boys

15:00 , Ariana Baio

A court reporter indicated that the emergency the Justice Department cited in its cancellation notice may be specific to the Proud Boys hearing as the rest of the DC courthouse is functioning.

“Separately, the courthouse is fine,” Brandi Buchman wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.

“Whatever the emergency might have be, it appears local to the Proud Boys sentencings.”

Sentence cancellation comes just an hour before expected time

14:51 , Ariana Baio

The Department of Justice cancelled the sentencing hearings for Proud Boys ex-leader Enrique Tarrio and Ethan Nordean, who led the Seattle chapter of the group, less than an hour before their scheduled hearings.

The two were expected to be sentenced around 10am on Wednesday.

It is unclear why the sentencings were cancelled but the US Attorney’s Office in Washington DC cited “an emergency.”

Proud Boys sentencing hearings canceled ‘due to emergency’

14:45 , Ariana Baio

Federal prison sentencing hearings for former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and prominent member Ethan Nordean have been canceled due to an emergency, the US Department of Justice has announced.

It was not immediately clear why the hearings were postponed, though it does not appear to involve the parties.

Alex Woodward reports:

Proud Boys sentencing hearings canceled ‘due to emergency’

Just in: Today’s Proud Boys sentencings have been postpone ‘due to an emergency'

14:30 , Alex Woodward

The US Department of Justice has postponed today’s sentencings of Proud Boys Enrique Tarrio and Ethan Nordean “due to an emergency.”

It was not immediately clear what prompted the announcement.

Enrique Tarrio could face decades in prison

14:23 , Alex Woodward

Good morning in America.

Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the neo-fascist gang the Proud Boys, will be sentenced at 10am ET in federal court in Washington DC.

In May, Tarrio and three other Proud Boys members and associates were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their roles in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol, among the most serious crimes facing the hundreds of people arrested in connection with the mob’s assault.

Prosecutors are seeking 33 years for Tarrio.

Tarrio, Joe Biggs, Ethan Nordean, Dominic Pezzola and Zachary Rehl were also found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding. Four of the men – all but Pezzola – were also found guilty of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, civil disorder and destruction of government property.

The jury found Tarrio, Biggs, Nordean and Rehl guilty of seditious conspiracy after conspiring to forcefully oppose the lawful transfer of presidential power.

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

‘Donald Trump’s army’: Proud Boys members face decades in prison for January 6 sedition

13:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A former leader of the far-right gang and three members were convicted of seditious conspiracy. They face the largest sentences yet in connection with the attack on the US Capitol, Alex Woodward reports

Proud Boys members face decades in prison for January 6 sedition

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest prison sentence yet for January 6

12:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Two days before a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, the now-former leader of a neo-fascist gang was arrested in Washington DC shortly after stepping off a plane from Miami.

Enrique Tarrio was wanted by police after he admitted to tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter flag outside a historically Black church in the nation’s capital during December riots connected to a protest supporting then-President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

On 6 January, 2021, Tarrio watched the insurrection unfold from a hotel in Baltimore.

Before his arrest two days earlier, Tarrio wrote to his lieutenant: “Whatever happens … make it a spectacle.”

Tarrio is now among four members of the self-described “Western chauvinist” gang facing decades in prison after they were found guilty in May of seditious conspiracy and other charges in connection with the mob’s assault. Tarrio’s verdict marked the first successful seditious conspiracy conviction against a January 6 defendant who was not physically at the Capitol that day.

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest January 6 prison sentence

ICYMI: Masked Proud Boys clash with mother of school shooting survivor and interrupt prayer vigil

10:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Just before a Tennessee lawmakers’ special session was set to begin last week in order to address public safety in the wake of March’s Nashville school shooting, members of the Proud Boys interrupted a prayer vigil at the state capitol.

Gov. Bill Lee called the General Assembly back for a special session following the Covenant School massacre, which took the lives of six people, including three nine-year-old children. Before the session started, hundreds gathered outside the Capitol for the prayer vigil, The Tennessean reported.

“Remember for whom you came,” the Rev Francisco Garcia said, according to the outlet, adding “We won’t let ignorance prevail.” Similarly, the Rev Dahron Johnson denounced guns for taking lives “too often and too soon.”

Masked Proud Boys clash with mother of Nashville school shooting survivor

ICYMI: Manhunt underway to find Proud Boy who was gone on run days before Jan 6 sentencing

07:30 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A member of the Proud Boys who was convicted on multiple charges for his actions in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol was scheduled to be sentenced on Friday – but he has gone missing.

Christopher Worrell, 52, of Naples, Florida, was found guilty of dispersing pepper spray gel on police officers as the mob stormed the Capitol in 2021 while Congress was certifying Joe Biden’s presidential victory.

Worrell has been on house arrest in Florida since he was released from jail in November 2021 after a judge substantiated his civil-rights complaints about his treatment in the jail.

The Proud Boy, who was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, and at one point contracted Covid-19 while at the jail, also claimed officials had dragged their feet in getting him medical treatment for a broken finger.

Federal prosecutors were seeking a sentence of 14 years for Worrell, according to the government’s sentencing memorandum which was submitted on Sunday.

Manhunt underway to find Proud Boy who was gone on run days before Jan 6 sentencing

‘Donald Trump’s army’: Proud Boys members face decades in prison for January 6 sedition

06:00 , Maroosha Muzaffar

A former leader of the far-right gang and three members were convicted of seditious conspiracy. They face the largest sentences yet in connection with the attack on the US Capitol, Alex Woodward reports:

Proud Boys members face decades in prison for January 6 sedition

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest prison sentence yet for January 6

04:35 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Two days before a mob of Donald Trump’s supporters stormed the US Capitol, the now-former leader of a neo-fascist gang was arrested in Washington DC shortly after stepping off a plane from Miami.

Enrique Tarrio was wanted by police after he admitted to tearing down and burning a Black Lives Matter flag outside a historically Black church in the nation’s capital during December riots connected to a protest supporting then-President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 presidential election was stolen from him.

On 6 January, 2021, Tarrio watched the insurrection unfold from a hotel in Baltimore.

Before his arrest two days earlier, Tarrio wrote to his lieutenant: “Whatever happens … make it a spectacle.”

Read the full story here:

Who is Enrique Tarrio? Ex-Proud Boys leader faces longest January 6 prison sentence

04:09 , Maroosha Muzaffar

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live blog on Proud Boys’ sentencing.

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