A former leader of the extremist group Proud Boys was sentenced Thursday to 15 years in prison for leading the attack on the United States Capitol to try to reverse Joe Biden’s electoral victory after the 2020 presidential election.
Zachary Rehl was seen on video spraying a chemical at police officers outside the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, but repeatedly lied about the assault while testifying at his trial, federal prosecutors said.
Prosecutors recommended a 30-year prison sentence for Rehl, who helped lead dozens of supporters of former President Donald Trump to the Capitol Hill.
Rehl and other members of the Proud Boys joined the mob that broke through police lines and forced lawmakers to flee, disrupting the joint session of Congress to certify Democrat Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The judge who sentenced Rehl also today sentenced Joseph Biggs, another former Proud Boys activist, to 17 years in prison for leading the attack on the Capitol.
Prosecutors had sought a 33-year prison sentence for Biggs, who helped lead dozens of members and associates of the far-right group in a march on Capitol Hill in an attack that killed five people and left more. of 140 injured policemen. . .
Source: TSF
