2023-05-04 15:53:09
Capitol Assault
Four far-right members found guilty
On Thursday, American justice sentenced four people for “sedition” in connection with the assault on the Capitol, which occurred on January 6, 2021.
Posted
On January 6, 2021, the Capitol was stormed.
AFP
Four members of the far-right Proud Boys group who took part in the assault on the US capitol on January 6, 2021, were found guilty of “sedition” on Thursday, according to several American media, an extremely rare charge. Their former leader, Enrique Tarrio, is among the four condemned.
They were five members of the group to be tried by a court in Washington for having, with a crowd of supporters of Republican President Donald Trump, sown chaos in the seat of Congress, when elected officials certified the election of his Democratic rival. Joe Biden at the White House.
The jury was unable to agree on the “sedition” charge for the fifth defendant, but all five were also found guilty of dragging the work of Congress. Since the attack on January 6, 2021, more than 950 supporters of former Republican President Donald Trump have been arrested and charged with sowing chaos in the seat of American democracy.
Chief facing 20 years in prison
After two other trials, concluded in November and January, six members of another far-right militia, the “Oath Keepers”, had already been convicted of sedition, a leader liable to 20 years in prison which involves to prioritize the use of force to oppose the government.
Difficult to prove, it is very rarely used, and the previous condemnation as such, before those of November and January, dates back almost a quarter of a century. The trial of the five members of the Proud Boys opened in December in a court in the federal capital.
neofascist organization
Former Proud Boys “national president” Enrique Tarrio, arrested in Miami in March 2022, was not in Washington on January 6, but was suspected of having led the attack on the temple of American democracy by members of this neofascist organization.
Four of his associates were accused of having directly taken part in the assault. In a video of the event, one of them, Dominic Pezzola, can be seen handling a riot shield – stolen from police – and smashing a window in the Capitol.
On a cold winter’s day on January 6, 2021, thousands of President Donald Trump’s supporters gathered in Washington to protest the 2020 election result that saw the ex-real estate mogul lose . A crowd had stormed the headquarters of the US Congress, sending shock waves around the world.
Criminal prosecution recommended
Nearly two years after the event, a parliamentary inquiry into the assault had recommended criminal charges be brought against ex-President Donald Trump, including for calling for insurrection and conspiracy against the American state.
Non-binding, the decision was nonetheless historic, since it aimed at a former head of state. Donald Trump had immediately set out a maneuver aimed, according to him, at hindering his new candidacy for the presidency.
(AFP)
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