Proud Boys may have plotted Capitol riot in revenge against police, FBI says
More than 100 have been charged so far in the attacks
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A leader of the Proud Boys who was arrested on Wednesday may have planned part of the 6 January attack on the Capitol as revenge against law enforcement, according to the FBI, having previously expressed anger over the police response to a member’s stabbing during December protests in Washington.
Before videos captured him helping lead the charge on the Capitol, Ethan Nordean, 30, a leader of the far-right street gang’s Seattle outfit, made multiple comments talking about a desire to get back at police after a Proud Boy was stabbed during election protests in December, according to FBI charging papers
“You took our boy in, and you let our stabber go,” a man authorities identified as Mr Nordean can be heard yelling in a video, just before the raid.
It’s an apparent reference to the stabbing incident as well as the arrest of Proud Boys leader Henry “Enrique” Tarrio earlier that day on charges he tore down a Black Lives Matter banner from a historic DC church during a prior protest, which he denies.
In a post after the attack on the Capitol, Mr Nordean wrote, “If you feel bad for the police, you are part of the problem . . .”
Before heading to Washington, he was allegedly making similar threats online.
“Let them remember the day they decided to make war with us,” he wrote on the now-shuttered right-wing social network Parler, after allegedly soliciting protective gear and communications equipment.
Just days before heading to Washington, Mr Nordean spoke on his podcast about the growing animosity of Proud Boys toward the police.
“The police are starting to become a problem,” he said, according to an affidavit. “We’ve had their back for years.”
As federal authorities work their way through the more than 100 cases against Capitol rioters that’ve already been filed, they are reportedly exploring the extent to which the attacks were coordinated, which would change their legal strategy and perhaps heighten penalties, and are even considering invoking the so-called RICO statute, normally used to prosecute mob conspiracies.
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments