🚨 Da Proud Boys Buggahs Found Guilty of Seditious Conspiracy 🚨
Four members of da far-right Proud Boys wen get found guilty of seditious conspiracy by one jury in Washington, DC, fo’ dea roles fo’ try stop da peaceful transfer of powah from den-President Donald Trump to Joe Biden aftah da 2020 election. Enrique Tarrio – da Proud Boys longtime chairmang – Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl wen found guilty Thursday of seditious conspiracy and plenny oddah charges, including tree separate conspiracy charges, obstructing da Electoral College vote, and tampering wit’ evidence. 😲
Da guilty verdict marks da tree time dat prosecutors wen secure convictions fo’ seditious conspiracy in da Justice Department’s historic prosecution of da peopo who wen breach da US Capitol on January 6, 2021. 🏛️
One fifth defendant, Dominic Pezzola, wen found not guilty of seditious conspiracy aftah da jury wen come back fo’ mo’ hours of deliberation on Thursday. No like da oddah defendants in dis trial, Pezzola no stay alleged fo’ get one leadership position in da organization and wen stay inactive in da Proud Boys group chats. 📱
All five defendants wen found guilty of oddah charges related to January 6, including: obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy fo’ prevent an officer from discharging any duties; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; and destruction of government property and aiding and abetting. 🚔
Each of da defendants wen convicted of at least one charge dat get one 20-year maximum prison sentence, and could stay long time behind bars. No get one sentencing date fo’ da five defendants yet. District Judge Timothy Kelly wen say probably going happen in late July. ⏳
Da jury nevah reach one verdict fo’ some defendants on charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers as well as destruction of government property and aiding and abetting. One mistrial wen declared on dose counts. ⚖️
In da court, while each juror wen polled, Tarrio – dressed in one tree-piece suit – wen look ova da desk, stretching his neck fo’ watch da jury. Rehl wen shake his head wen he wen get convicted of seditious conspiracy while da oddahs wen stay still in dea chairs. 🪑
Aftah da jurors wen leave, plenny defendants and attorneys wen shake hands, hug, and talk small kine. Da family fo’ da defendants wen cry togeddah in one hallway outside da courtroom. 😢
‘Not one happy day’ Attorney General Merrick Garland wen say da verdict “makes clear dat da Justice Department going do everything in its powah fo’ defend da American peopo and American democracy.” 🇺🇸
“The evidence presented at trial detailed da extent of da violence at da Capitol on January 6, and da main role dees defendants wen play fo’ set into motion da unlawful events of dat day,” he wen tell reporters at da Justice Department. 🎙️
Garland wen say dat da DOJ’s massive investigation into da Capitol riot “has secured more than 600 convictions fo’ a wide range of criminal conduct” during da attack and in da days leading up to it. 🔍
Da lawyers fo’ some of da defendants wen get mixed reactions to reporters outside da courthouse, wit’ Tarrio’s attorney, Nayib Hassan, saying dat even though he nevah agree wit’ da jury’s decision, he wen respect ‘um. 🤝
“At dis point in time we’re currently drafting all da appellate paperwork fo’ move forward,” Hassan wen say. 📝
Steven Metcalf, one defense attorney fo’ Pezzola, wen say he also going appeal da verdict, but wen give props to da jury fo’ acquitting Pezzola of seditious conspiracy. 🎉
“Dominic Pezzola wen ultimately separated from da seditious conspiracy charge,” Metcalf wen say. “Which is wat I wen set out fo’ do ova one year and a half ago and wat I wen able fo’ accomplish.” ✊
Asked how Rehl wen feeling, attorney Carmen Hernandez wen tell reporters dat her client was “not happy.” 😞
“Dis week stay his wife’s birthday, his wedding anniversary, his lil girl going be two years old in June. No stay one happy day,” she wen say. 🎂
“We stay real disappointed,” Hernandez wen say. “I no believe he wen commit seditious conspiracy … but da jury wen spoken and dat stay our system of justice. I stay real disappointed in da verdict.” 😔
Nick Smith, who wen represent Nordean, wen decline fo’ comment on da verdict to reporters inside da courthouse. Biggs’ attorney, Norman Pattis, also wen decline fo’ comment, but lata wen say on Twitter, “It was one difficult trial. Da appeal stay promising. Much aloha to da Boys and dea supporters.” 💙
Tarrio verdict Da conviction of Tarrio stay especially important, even though he nevah stay in Washington, DC, on January 6. According to da indictment, da Proud Boys leader wen help fo’ create one command structure inside da Proud Boys in da lead up to January 6. 📈
Text and Signal messages wen show in da indictment suggest dat Tarrio wen preparing fo’ one “revolution,” and wen review documents dat wen set forth one plan fo’ occupy few “crucial buildings” in Washington, including House and Senate office buildings around da Capitol. 📜
Tarrio wen get arrested on January 4, 2021, fo’ bringing high-capacity rifle magazines to DC and wen ordered fo’ leave da city. 🚓
During da trial, using messages and videos posted by da defendants and oddah members of da group, prosecutors wen lay out da case dat da Proud Boys, all pumped up by Trump and his election lies aftah da 2020 defeat, wen start calling fo’ violence and revolution against da incoming Biden presidency. 🔥
Members of da group wen see Biden and oddahs on da left as one threat to da country, according to prosecutors, and wen message each oddah about da need fo’ “war,” “revolution,” and firing squads fo’ traitors. 💥
On January 6, prosecutors wen say, plenny of da defendants nevah go Trump’s speech dat day but instead wen start one march to da Capitol. 🚶♂️
Da Proud Boys wen stay at da front lines of da mob on Capitol grounds and wen stay dea wen da first barriers wen get breached. Prosecutors wen say dat leaders of da group wen make da members all nuts and wen communicate wit’ dem, through hand signals, fo’ move ahead. ✊
Aftah da rioters wen arrive at Senate wing doors of da Capitol building, Pezzola wen use one police riot shield he wen steal during da attack fo’ break open one window, prosecutors wen say, which da rioters wen enter da Capitol through. 💥
Defense attorneys wen argue dat dea clients nevah get one plan fo’ storm da Capitol and stop da electoral college vote dat day. Da messages and videos show not mo’ den stupid, vulgar rhetoric, defense attorneys wen say, hardly one seditious plot against da US government. 😠
Da trial stay often going all nuts wit’ legal battles, evidentiary disputes, sealed hearings, plenny calls fo’ one mistrial, and some yelling matches wit’ da judge. Da trial wen wrap up last Tuesday wit’ da final closing arguments from defense counsel and federal prosecutors. 🗣️
During da trial, jurors wen listen to testimony from multiple officers who wen defend da Capitol on January 6, as well as FBI agents who wen investigate da Proud Boys and testimony from some Proud Boys members, including two of da defendants. None of dem wen say dea was evah one specific plan fo’ take ova da Capitol. 🕵️♂️
Da countless delays, brought on by new evidence and informants, one juror who wen tink dey wen being followed, and small kine fights among attorneys wen push one trial originally estimated fo’ last five to seven weeks fo’ stretch across four months. ⌛
Dis story wen get updated wit’ mo’ developments. 🔄
NOW IN ENGLISH
🚨 Proud Boys Members Found Guilty of Seditious Conspiracy 🚨
Four members of the far-right Proud Boys were found guilty of seditious conspiracy by a jury in Washington, DC, for their roles in attempting to stop the peaceful transfer of power from then-President Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 election. Enrique Tarrio – the Proud Boys’ longtime chairman – Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl were found guilty Thursday of seditious conspiracy and several other charges, including three separate conspiracy charges, obstructing the Electoral College vote, and tampering with evidence. 😲
The guilty verdict marks the third time that prosecutors have secured convictions for seditious conspiracy in the Justice Department’s historic prosecution of the people who breached the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. 🏛️
A fifth defendant, Dominic Pezzola, was found not guilty of seditious conspiracy after the jury returned for more hours of deliberation on Thursday. Unlike the other defendants in this trial, Pezzola was not alleged to have a leadership position in the organization and was inactive in the Proud Boys group chats. 📱
All five defendants were found guilty of other charges related to January 6, including: obstruction of an official proceeding; conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties; obstruction of law enforcement during civil disorder; and destruction of government property and aiding and abetting. 🚔
Each of the defendants was convicted of at least one charge that carries a 20-year maximum prison sentence, and could face a long time behind bars. No sentencing date has been set for the five defendants yet. District Judge Timothy Kelly said it will probably happen in late July. ⏳
The jury did not reach a verdict for some defendants on charges of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers as well as destruction of government property and aiding and abetting. A mistrial was declared on those counts. ⚖️
In the courtroom, while each juror was polled, Tarrio – dressed in a three-piece suit – looked over the desk, stretching his neck to watch the jury. Rehl shook his head when he was convicted of seditious conspiracy while the others remained still in their chairs. 🪑
After the jurors left, several defendants and attorneys shook hands, hugged, and talked briefly. The family of the defendants cried together in a hallway outside the courtroom. 😢
‘Not a happy day’ Attorney General Merrick Garland said the verdict “makes clear that the Justice Department will do everything in its power to defend the American people and American democracy.” 🇺🇸
“The evidence presented at trial detailed the extent of the violence at the Capitol on January 6, and the central role these defendants played in setting into motion the unlawful events of that day,” he told reporters at the Justice Department. 🎙️
Garland said that the DOJ’s massive investigation into the Capitol riot “has secured more than 600 convictions for a wide range of criminal conduct” during the attack and in the days leading up to it. 🔍
The lawyers for some of the defendants had mixed reactions to reporters outside the courthouse, with Tarrio’s attorney, Nayib Hassan, saying that although he did not agree with the jury’s decision, he respected it. 🤝
“At this point in time, we’re currently drafting all the appellate paperwork to move forward,” Hassan said. 📝
Steven Metcalf, a defense attorney for Pezzola, said he would also appeal the verdict but praised the jury for acquitting Pezzola of seditious conspiracy. 🎉
“Dominic Pezzola was ultimately separated from the seditious conspiracy conspiracy charge,” Metcalf said. “Which is what I set out to do over a year and a half ago and what I was able to accomplish.” ✊
Asked how Rehl was feeling, attorney Carmen Hernandez told reporters that her client was “not happy.” 😞
“This week is his wife’s birthday, his wedding anniversary, and his little girl will be two years old in June. It’s not a happy day,” she said. 🎂
“We are really disappointed,” Hernandez said. “I don’t believe he committed seditious conspiracy… but the jury has spoken, and that is our system of justice. I am really disappointed in the verdict.” 😔
Nick Smith, who represented Nordean, declined to comment on the verdict to reporters inside the courthouse. Biggs’ attorney, Norman Pattis, also declined to comment but later said on Twitter, “It was a difficult trial. The appeal is promising. Much love to the Boys and their supporters.” 💙
Tarrio’s verdict: The conviction of Tarrio is especially significant, even though he was not in Washington, DC, on January 6. According to the indictment, the Proud Boys leader helped create a command structure within the Proud Boys leading up to January 6. 📈
Text and Signal messages shown in the indictment suggest that Tarrio was preparing for a “revolution” and reviewed documents outlining plans to occupy key buildings in Washington, including House and Senate office buildings around the Capitol. 📜
Tarrio was arrested on January 4, 2021, for bringing high-capacity rifle magazines to DC and was ordered to leave the city. 🚓
During the trial, using messages and videos posted by the defendants and other members of the group, prosecutors laid out the case that the Proud Boys, fueled by Trump and his election lies after the 2020 defeat, began calling for violence and revolution against the incoming Biden presidency. 🔥
Members of the group saw Biden and others on the left as a threat to the country, according to prosecutors, and messaged each other about the need for “war,” “revolution,” and firing squads for traitors. 💥
On January 6, prosecutors said, many of the defendants did not attend Trump’s speech that day but instead started a march to the Capitol. 🚶♂️
The Proud Boys were at the front lines of the mob on Capitol grounds and were there when the first barriers were breached. Prosecutors said that leaders of the group riled up the members and communicated with them through hand signals to move ahead. ✊
After the rioters arrived at the Senate wing doors of the Capitol building, Pezzola used a police riot shield he had stolen during the attack to break open a window, prosecutors said, which the rioters entered the Capitol through. 💥
Defense attorneys argued that their clients did not have a plan to storm the Capitol and stop the electoral college vote that day. The messages and videos showed no more than stupid, vulgar rhetoric, defense attorneys said, hardly a seditious plot against the US government. 😠
The trial was often fraught with legal battles, evidentiary disputes, sealed hearings, numerous calls for a mistrial, and some yelling matches with the judge. The trial wrapped up last Tuesday with the final closing arguments from defense counsel and federal prosecutors. 🗣️
During the trial, jurors listened to testimony from multiple officers who defended the Capitol on January 6, as well as FBI agents who investigated the Proud Boys and testimony from some Proud Boys members, including two of the defendants. None of them said there was ever a specific plan to take over the Capitol. 🕵️♂️
The countless delays, brought on by new evidence and informants, a juror who thought they were being followed, and minor disputes among attorneys, caused a trial originally estimated to last five to seven weeks to stretch across four months. ⌛
This story has been updated with more developments. 🔄
