Two Proud Boys Charged With Conspiracy In DC Riots

The New York Times reports:

Federal prosecutors investigating the violent riot at the Capitol this month announced their first conspiracy charges against the Proud Boys on Friday night, accusing two members of the far-right nationalist group of working together to obstruct and interfere with law enforcement officers protecting Congress during the final certification of the presidential election.

In a brief news release, the Justice Department said that an indictment had been filed against two Proud Boys, Dominic Pezzola, of Rochester, N.Y., and William Pepe, of Beacon, N.Y. But by late Friday night, the charging papers had not yet appeared in the Washington federal court database.

CNN reports:

Both men were first hit with charges two weeks ago. Prosecutors alleged they had removed metal barricades at the Capitol and that Pezzola had smashed a window using a police officer’s riot shield.

Footage of the attack shows pro-Trump rioters entering the Capitol through the broken window. Of the approximately 175 known defendants facing riot-related charges, at least eight are affiliated with the Proud Boys, according to a CNN analysis of court documents.

The organization, which has maintained links with both overt white supremacists and more mainstream Republicans, has been a vocal — and often violent — advocate for former President Donald J. Trump.

Man, I remember when I first started reporting on the Proud Boys and their founder, Gavin McInnes. One major form of pushback I got was, “ Why are you wasting your time on these nobodies?”

This is why. https://t.co/9CKGhnN2fH

— Amanda Marcotte (@AmandaMarcotte) January 30, 2021