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Two Former Proud Boys Leaders Sentenced for Jan. 6 Attack on U.S. Capitol

In a significant development in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 assault on the U.S. Capitol, two former leaders of the Proud Boys, Joseph Biggs and Zachary Rehl, were sentenced on Thursday. U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly delivered one of the longest sentences yet for an individual involved in the attacks, sentencing Biggs to 17 years in prison and Rehl to 15 years in prison.

The Sentences:

– Joseph Biggs, the former leader of the Proud Boys’ Florida chapter, was sentenced to 17 years in prison.
– Zachary Rehl, the former leader of the Proud Boys’ Philadelphia chapter, was sentenced to 15 years in prison.

Involvement and Conviction:

Joseph Biggs, a U.S. army veteran and close ally of former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, was convicted of seditious conspiracy in May. He, along with two other Proud Boys leaders, was found guilty after a more than four-month-long trial.

Enhancement of Charges:

During the sentencing, Judge Kelly accepted the government’s recommendation to apply an enhancement that labeled Biggs’ crimes as acts of terrorism. This enhancement was based on the assertion that Biggs sought to influence the actions of the government through threats and the use of force.

Prosecutors’ Recommendations:

Prosecutors sought a 33-year prison sentence for Biggs, which was their longest recommended sentence for any participant convicted of joining the Jan. 6 assault. They had previously sought a 25-year prison sentence for Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes. However, Judge Kelly delivered sentences significantly lower than the recommendations, but still among the longest for defendants charged in connection with the Capitol attack.

Role in the Jan. 6 Attack:

Prosecutors characterized Joseph Biggs as the “tip of the spear” for the mob during the Capitol attack. They highlighted his role as the co-leader of the so-called “Ministry of Self Defense,” a planning team that later evolved into the Proud Boys’ ground operation for Jan. 6. Biggs was involved in four separate breaches of law enforcement lines and made his way to the Senate chamber after entering the building.

Post-Attack Celebration:

After the Capitol attack, Biggs recorded a podcast-style interview where he celebrated the assault as a “warning shot to the government” and claimed it showed the government’s weakness. Prosecutors argued that Biggs’ rhetoric before and after the attack demonstrated his appreciation for violence as a means to influence the government.

Zachary Rehl’s Role:

Zachary Rehl, one of the leaders of the Proud Boys, played a significant role in the Jan. 6 assault. He was part of the first wave of rioters to breach the Capitol and helped overwhelm officers by spraying one in the face with an irritant spray. Prosecutors also accused him of perjuring himself 14 times during the trial.

Request for Leniency:

Both defendants’ attorneys argued for leniency. Biggs’ attorney claimed that his statements should be protected under his right to free speech and criticized the government’s portrayal of the crimes. Rehl, in an emotional plea, asked for forgiveness and expressed his regret for his actions.

AI legalese decoder‘s Role:

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