Proud Boys leader pleads guilty to burning BLM banner
Proud Boys leader Henry (Enrique) Tarrio has pleaded guilty to burning a Black Lives Matter banner stolen from a Washington, DC, church during the Capitol protest in Jan.
The 37-year-old far-right extremist pleaded guilty in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia to one count of destruction of property and a local weapons charge during a Jan. 6 protest, involving a deadly raid on US Capitol.
The Proud Boys leader has been ordered to stay away from Washington up until his sentencing hearing, scheduled for Aug. 23.
A maximum sentence of 180 days in prison or a $1,000 fine could be considered a normal outcome.
‘Truly remorseful and regretful’
Several members of the Proud Boys have been charged for their roles in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6 as lawmakers were in the process of certifying Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 presidential election.
Another Capitol protester, identified as Paul Allard Hodgkins, was also sentenced to eight months behind bars by US District Court Judge Randolph Moss.
"Democracy requires the cooperation of the government," Moss said. "When a mob is prepared to attack the Capitol to prevent our elected officials of both parties from performing their constitutional and statutory duty, democracy is in trouble. The damage that Mr. Hodgkins and others caused that day is way beyond a several-hour delay in certification [of the election]. It is damage that will persist in this country for decades."
Hodgkins apologized after appearing in the court, asserting that his deeds caused damage.
"I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am truly remorseful and regretful for my actions in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021," Hodgkins said. "I say this, not because I face consequences, but because of the damage that day's actions have caused, the way that this country that I love has been hurt."
Former President Donald Trump has been blamed by Democrats of inciting his supporters to raid the Capital after a loss in the 2020 presidential race.
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