The harshest sentence so far in the attack on the Capitol: 22 years in prison for the ex-leader of the ‘Proud Boys’ Why dolphins are still hunted in Japan

Due to the attack on the US Capitol in January 2021, the former leader of the right-wing group ‘Proud Boys’ must be sentenced to 22 years in prison. The sentence for Henry ‘Enrique’ Tarrio was set on Tuesday, the US Justice Department announced afterwards. A jury in a Washington state court found Tarrio guilty in May of “inciting conspiracy” in connection with the January 6, 2021 attack. The verdict was subsequently announced. Several US media quoted a lawyer for Tarrios as saying his client intended to appeal.

The offense of seditious conspiracy has been rarely used in the judicial history of the country. According to the New York Times, Tarrio received the harshest sentence yet in connection with the attack on the Capitol.

On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-voted President Donald Trump violently stormed the seat of the US Parliament in Washington. Congress met there that day to formally affirm Democrat Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election. Trump had earlier incited his supporters in a speech with the false claim that he had been robbed of victory by massive electoral fraud. Five people were killed as a result of the riots. The attack on the heart of American democracy shocked the country.

Attorney General Merrick Garland said the “Proud Boys” played a central role in the attack. Tarrio has now learned the punishment for conspiring to prevent the lawful transfer of power by force. Other members of the group had previously been sentenced to long prison terms. (sda/dpa)