Another former leader of the far-right Proud Boys has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for storming the US Capitol. Another former Proud Boy faces 10 years in prison.
18 years in prison – for the second time this highest sentence so far has been imposed in connection with the storming of the US Capitol. After the leader of the radical right-wing group Oath Keepers, Rhodes, one of the former leaders of the likewise radical right-wing Proud Boys has to go to prison for 18 years.
Ethan Nordean was convicted of, among other things, seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors called him the undisputed leader on the ground.
Ten years in prison for Pezzola
Another former Proud Boy, Pezzola, had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison. He shattered a window in the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Unlike Nordean, however, Pezzola was not found guilty of the most serious charge of seditious conspiracy.
As he exited the courtroom, he shouted “Trump won” – repeating the former US President’s lie about the stolen 2020 presidential election.
Goal: Prevent Biden
The Proud Boys, who have now been convicted, stormed the Capitol together with other Trump supporters because they wanted to prevent Congress from confirming Joe Biden’s election victory. As recently as Thursday, two other Proud Boys leaders were sentenced to 17 and 15 years in prison.