Grand jury charges Proud Boys leaders with conspiracy in Capitol attack News
© WikiMedia (Anthony Crider)
Grand jury charges Proud Boys leaders with conspiracy in Capitol attack

On Friday, unsealed court records from a federal grand jury indictment revealed four Proud Boys leaders have been charged with six counts including conspiracy in relation to the January 6 Capitol attacks.

Count one of the indictment claims a conspiracy in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 371, under which one may be charged if, “two or more persons conspire either to commit any offense against the United States”. Counts two and three of the indictment allege violations of 18 U.S.C. § 1512(c)(2) for conspiring “to corruptly obstruct, influence, and impede an official proceeding” and 18 U.S.C. § 231(a)(3) for conspiring “to obstruct, impede, and interfere with law enforcement officers engaged in the lawful performance of official duties incident to and during the commission of a civil disorder.”

The indictment alleges that the four leaders carried out their conspiracy in part by encouraging others to attend the protest, raising funds through social media, and “obtaining paramilitary gear and supplies.”

Count four charges violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1361, and §1362 for the destruction of government property and aiding and abetting. Count five charges the men with violating 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(1) when they “unlawfully and knowingly enter[ed] and remain[ed] in a restricted building and grounds.” The final count alleges a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1752(a)(2) which claims the defendants knowingly and intentionally engaged “in disorderly and disruptive conduct in and within such proximity to, a restricted building and grounds.”

The Department of Justice announced last week that it expects to charge at least 100 other suspects in the Capitol attacks. About 300 suspects have been charged already, including other members of the Proud Boys.