Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Indicted on New Charges

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, a leader of the Proud Boys, has been indicted on new charges of “seditious conspiracy” for his role in the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol attack – the most serious charges to yet be leveled against anyone involved in the riots.

A grand jury in Washington, D.C., indicted Tarrio, along with four other Proud Boys members, claiming that they played a role in planning the riot. These are some of the most serious charges to be brought after Jan. 6. The Justice Department has brought only one other case of seditious conspiracy, against Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes and other members of that far-right militia.

The indictment says that Tarrio, along with the other members, created a group known as the Ministry of Self Defense, whose main purpose was “national rally planning.”

It alleges that between December 2020 and January 2021, Tarrio and the other members “did knowingly conspire, confederate, and agree with other persons … to oppose by force” the authority of the U.S. government and looked to “prevent, hinder, and delay the execution of any law of the United States” by force.

Tarrio and the others encouraged Proud Boys members to attend the riot in Washington, DC, on Jan. 6, 2021, raised funds online to cover travel expenses for those going to the capital, and “engaged in meetings and encrypted communications” to plan the deadly attack.

They are also being indicted on other charges, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties.

The new charges come just days before the House committee investigating January 6 is scheduled to hold the first of several hearings about the Capitol attack.