Proud Boys’ Leader Enrique Tarrio To Remain Behind Bars While Facing Jan.6 Charges

Enrique Tarrio, the 38-year old leader of the Proud Boys extremist group, appeared in Miami federal court Tuesday. A magistrate judge ordered that he remain behind bars before his trial on charges of planning the attack on the Capitol.

Magistrate Judge Lauren Louis said, “he’s a danger to the community is rebutted,” after rejecting a plea by Tarrio’s defense attorney to release him on $1.25 million secured by his family members in Miami.

Tarrio will be transferred to Washington, D.C. to face indictment, after being in custody at the Miami Federal Detention Center. Although Tarrio wasn’t present on the day of the attack, Justice Department prosecutors said in its filing, “he directed fellow Proud Boy members in encrypted chat room messages to storm Congress and stop Joe Biden’s victory.”

Nayib Hassan, Tarrio’s defense attorney, argues that Tarrio is not a violent person and did not order anyone to storm the Capitol building, hurt officers or damage government property.

According to the indictment before the Jan. 6 attack, Tarrio met with the founder of another extremist group, the Oath Keepers, discussing plans to target Congress. Almost 800 people, many from Florida, have been arrested for involvement in the insurrection.

Article by Tara Cumberbatch