Members of the far-right militancy are accused of ‘sedition’
Four followers, including the former leader of the Proud Boys group, were convicted two years after the events of disturbing public order and legal authority.
They were on trial in Washington for causing chaos in a seat of Congress along with a crowd of Republican President Donald Trump’s supporters.
AFP/Olivier Douliery
Four members of the far-right group the Proud Boys were found guilty of “treason” on Thursday, according to multiple US media outlets. This fee is very rare.
Their former leader Enrique Dario was among the four condemned. They were on trial in court in Washington for sowing chaos in the seat of Congress, along with a crowd of Republican President Donald Trump’s supporters, as elected officials certified his Democratic rival Joe Biden for the House-White race.
The jury failed to agree on a “treason” charge for the fifth defendant, but all five were found guilty of obstructing the work of Congress.
Since the attack on January 6, 2021, 950 supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump have been arrested and charged with sowing chaos in the seat of American democracy.
He served 20 years in prison
After two other trials that ended in November and January, six members of another far-right militia, the “Truth Guards,” have already been sentenced to 20 years in prison for treason to oppose the government.
Hard to prove, it is rarely used, and the earliest condemnation predates November and January, nearly a quarter of a century.
The trial of the five members of the Proud Boys began in December at a court in the federal capital. Former Proud Boys “national leader” Enrique Dario, who was arrested in Miami in March 2021, was not in Washington on January 6, but was suspected of leading an attack on the American Temple of Democracy by members of this neofascist organization.
Four of his accomplices were charged with direct involvement in the attack. In a video of the event, one of them, Dominic Pesola, can be seen wielding a riot shield — stolen from police — and breaking a window in the Capitol.
AFP
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