Capitol riot punishment

A US federal court has sentenced a top leader of Proud Boys to 17 years in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 insurrection at the Capitol. Proud Boys is a neofascist group that grew in prominence because of its involvement in political violence, particularly relating to several issues on which its positions aligned with former president Donald Trump. Although they are not directly linked, the group would show up at anti-Trump protests and progressive demos to pick fights with peaceful protesters, in some cases directly assaulting them. Prosecutors say the Proud Boys see themselves as “Donald Trump’s army, fighting to keep their preferred leader in power no matter what the law or the courts had to say about it”.

Joseph Biggs, the convicted leader, also appeared to attempt a ‘press conference’, but even while apologising, he tried to avoid full culpability by claiming he was “seduced by the crowd” and, “my curiosity got the better of me.” He did not explain why, despite extensive footage of him at the Capitol, at no point during the incident did he appear to take a step back, and it was only after being tracked down, prosecuted, and convicted for sedition and other charges over two and a half years later that he expressed remorse for attempting to overthrow the government.

Over 1,100 people have been charged in connection with the events of January 6, including some 597 who have been convicted. Despite receiving one of the longest sentences for a Capitol riot participant so far, Biggs actually got off lucky — prosecutors were seeking 33 years. Several other leaders of far-right groups involved in the January 6 violence have also either received, or are expected to receive sentences of 15-plus years.

Meanwhile, Trump continues to face charges relating to election fraud and abuse of office. Like other right-wing populists around the world, Trump has disassociated himself from those committing violence in his name after being inspired by his own violent rhetoric, leaving them high and dry, while simultaneously asking his supporters to pay his legal bills.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 2^nd, 2023.

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