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Enrique Tarrio, the former national leader of the far-right group Proud Boys, was arrested on Friday near the US Capitol. He was charged with assaulting a woman who was protesting against a gathering attended by him and other individuals who had received presidential pardons for crimes related to the 6 January 2021 attack on the Capitol.
Incident Details
Capitol police reported that Enrique Tarrio struck the protester’s cellphone and arm after she placed her phone close to his face while walking near the Capitol. The altercation occurred just after Tarrio had left a news conference that had ended "without incident."
Following the incident, the woman approached police officers and expressed her wish to file a complaint. As a result, Tarrio was arrested and charged with simple assault, according to a police statement.
Tarrio’s Past and Presidential Clemency
Enrique Tarrio, who hails from Miami, was previously serving a 22-year prison sentence—the longest among individuals convicted for their involvement in the Capitol riot. However, in January, the newly elected US president granted clemency to more than 1,500 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol attack. This decision was among the first executive actions taken by President Donald Trump after regaining the White House.
The decision to pardon those involved in the violent Capitol riot has been widely criticized. According to a Washington Post/Ipsos poll released on Thursday, more than 80% of Americans disapprove of Trump’s decision.
Enrique Tarrio and the Capitol Riot Conviction
Tarrio and three of his top associates were convicted of seditious conspiracy for planning the attack on the US Capitol. The violent riot was seen as a last-ditch effort to prevent Joe Biden from taking office after defeating Trump in the 2020 presidential election.
On Friday, Enrique Tarrio attended a press conference along with other Proud Boys members and Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers. Rhodes had also been convicted of seditious conspiracy and sentenced to 18 years in prison, but he was released in January after Trump commuted his sentence.
Public Reaction and Controversy
Tarrio’s arrest has reignited debates over Trump’s decision to pardon Capitol riot offenders. Many Americans, as reflected in recent polls, view the move as highly controversial and damaging to the rule of law.
With Enrique Tarrio’s latest arrest, his past involvement in extremist activities and the ongoing political divide in the United States continue to be in the spotlight.
