The FBI has roll up societal media posts and code school text substance that implicate four older members of the Proud Boys in a Jan. 6 plot of ground to storm police barriers at the U.S. Capitol and hold back members of Congress from certifying Joe Biden ’s triumph .
In asuperseding indictmenton Friday place leaders of the notoriously violent far - right fraternity , the act U.S. lawyer for D.C. alleges three Proud Boys chapter presidents and another fellow member were among the mob of “ give up the Steal ” rioter that overran law and finally draw its way inside the Capitol . In some cases , charge documents allege , the members move ahead of the crowds .
prosecutor have propose up online posts from as far back as November and up to the day of the siege to show criminal offense pull by the suspect were be after well in advance in what courts call a “ criminal conspiracy . ” Text message , include many from an cypher channel used exclusively for Washington , show Proud Boys member issuing order and giving each other advice , such as “ cops are the primary threat , ” lock with mentions of “ plans ” that now lend credence to cabal charges .
A member of the Proud Boys speaks to the media at a gun rights rally near the Capitol in Richmond, Virginia on 15 April 2025.Photo: Ryan M. Kelly (Getty Images)
The same Proud Boys members , prosecuting officer say , would later leave accomplices across the westerly lawn of the Capitol where police were sweep over before the building was lastly gap .
Proud Boys chapter presidents Ethan Nordean , 30 , of Seattle , who ’s also an Elders chapter member ( and predict himself “ Rufio Panman ” ) ; Zachary Rehl , 35 , of Philadelphia ; and Charles Donohoe , 33 , of Kernersville , North Carolina are all named as carbon monoxide gas - conspirators , in improver to Joseph Biggs , 37 , of Ormond Beach , Florida , who is listed as a “ ego - key personal digital assistant of sure Proud Boys case . ”
The four defendants now face six counts , including obstruction of an official legal proceeding and devastation of government property and aiding and abetting .
prosecuting attorney first point to a Parler post by Enrique Tarrio , the Proud Boys chairperson ( look up to only as such in the indictment ) . His Dec. 29th message made public the Proud Boys ’ program to “ deform out in record numbers on Jan 6th , ” as well as the decision to “ be incognito ” so that “ small teams ” could “ circularise across downtown . ”
The commit documents go on to detail issue as the unfold that day , describe central moments of the siege and how the Proud Boys played a pivotal role :
The Proud Boys gathered in numbers pool at around a after part till one near Peace Circle , where Pennsylvania Ave . and First St. meet . A police barrier is well over on the western circumference present moment after . Footage of the breach wascapturedby several cameras , including that of correct - annexe media personality Elijah Schaffer . accord to prosecutor , Nordean , Biggs , Rehl , and Donohoe were part of the syndicate that forced its way of life past police guarding a pedestrian walkway .
The fence and other obstacles rear by police on the western lawn prove nothing more than protection theater . The crowd easily overtake them and the police force continued to lose ground , retreating finally to the west steps . Nordean “ positioned himself near the front of the crew as these events took place , ” prosecutors said .
Inside the building , Vice President Mike Pence was convening a joint seance to evidence the Electoral College vote and name Joe Biden president - elect . out of doors , a violent crowd stoop on reversing the outcome surge . Police now vastly in the nonage watched as bunch cantillate , some to lynch the vice president , smashed windows and rammed clear doors .
Prosecutors say three of the accused — Nodrean , Biggs , and Rehl — get hold of the opportunity to get in spite of appearance . In a self - shot telecasting as the rout hand the west plaza , Biggs foretell : “ we ’ve just taken the Capitol . ”
Social media posts written by the Proud Boys now provide grounds in their name . Donohoe , 33 , the president of a North Carolina chapter , wrote for instance : “ We surprise the Capitol Building unarmed , ” adding : “ And we took it over unarmed . ” Prosecutors also use Emily Price Post prior to the break to assist establish spirit : “ It ’s time for fucking War if they slip this shit , ” Biggs wrote on Nov. 5 . Rehl , days after mentioning a “ a big rally ” on Jan. 6 , wrote he was hoping “ the traitors who are trying to slip the election ” are killed by “ firing squads . ”
The group crowdfunded online more than a week in advance to pay for members ’ travel and buy newfangled paramilitary train , let in wireless equipment . Some of the group would habituate Zello , an app that emulates walkie - talking picture over a cell web .
The FBI obtained numerous subject matter from encrypted chaffer groups that included Nordean , Biggs , Rehl , Donohoe and “ a fistful of additional members . ” Two days before the event , Donohoe is seen discourage member in the New World chat : “ Everything is compromised and we could be search at Gang boot . ” “ cease everything prompt , ” he say , “ This comes from the top . ” But just about an hr later , another member , unidentified in the charge documents , call for handheld radios to be fleet out to pluck which channels to use .
A separate encrypted Proud Boy channel called “ kick on the Ground ” was create for communication in Washington , the indictment read . There , members were instructed by Biggs to “ avoid getting into any dickhead ” on the even of the event . “ Tomorrow ’s the mean solar day , ” he said . The news “ plan ” is used multiple time . Members are also told that “ cops are the primary threat ” and to persist covert , not displaying their colour .
When the group in the end reached the Capitol building that daylight after 2 p.m. , prosecutors say fellow Proud Boy member Dominic Pezzola , 43 , smash a window using a riot carapace he ’d rive from the work force of a law ship’s officer . rioter poured inside and ram open a door for the crowd . Biggs accompanied three other Proud Boy members , William Pepe , Joshua Pruitt , and Gilbert Garcia inside . A message is dropped in the Boots on the Ground channel bit later : “ We just stormed the capitol . ”
Some walked the Hall while others loiter around in the rotunda before live back outside . A message briefly 3:30 p.m. inform the mathematical group : “ We are regroup with a 2nd personnel . ”
Five mass died in the clashes , including Ashli Elizabeth Babbitt , who was take while trying to break-dance into the Speaker ’s Lobby , and Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick , who succumbed to injuries the following day .
More than 300 mass have been charge so far in connectedness with the Capitol breach . As many as 100 more may be indicted , officials say .
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