WASHINGTON, D.C. — Enrique Tarrio, the former leader of the far-right group Proud Boys, was arrested Friday outside the U.S. Capitol after an incident during a news conference. Tarrio, who had been pardoned by President Donald Trump for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, was detained by U.S. Capitol Police after allegedly striking a woman’s arm and her phone.
The altercation occurred after Tarrio’s news conference, which was held near the Capitol and was interrupted by counter-protesters. Despite the attempts to drown out the event, Tarrio proceeded with his remarks, joined by several Proud Boys members and Stewart Rhodes, leader of the Oath Keepers militia. The group announced plans to sue the U.S. Justice Department over their prison sentences and criticized the conditions in which they were held. They also mentioned using cryptocurrency to fund the legal action.
Tarrio, who had been banned from Washington, D.C., due to previous criminal charges, did not participate in the Capitol riot itself, though he watched it from Baltimore. He was sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the events of January 6. Rhodes, who stayed outside the Capitol while his militia entered, was sentenced to 18 years.
Both Tarrio and Rhodes were convicted of seditious conspiracy for their involvement in the Capitol riot, which resulted in the deaths of a police officer and an unarmed woman shot by police.
