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The far-right Proud Boys leader pleaded guilty on Monday to burning a Black Lives Matter banner taken from a historic black church during a demonstration in December.
Enrique Tarrio, 37, of Miami, was arrested Jan. 3 in Washington, DC, on a warrant arising out of the Dec.12 incident. The Proud Boys and other groups marched in a noisy pro-Trump rally in downtown Washington. The banner was stolen from Asbury United Methodist Church, one of the oldest black churches in the area.
In addition to the charge of destroying property, he also pleaded guilty to attempting to possess a large capacity gun magazine, which is illegal in the city. Both counts are misdemeanors, punishable by up to six months in prison. He will be sentenced next month.
Monday’s calls were unrelated to the January 6 Capitol riot, in which at least three dozen members or supporters of the Proud Boys were indicted. Federal prosecutors have said in court documents that Tarrio, dubbed the “chairman of the Proud Boys,” posted messages on social media that the group members planned to “show up in record numbers on January 6.”
After Tarrio’s arrest and ban on returning to Washington, prosecutors said, other members of the group took charge of planning what would happen when Congress meets to count the electoral vote for the president. .
Federal law enforcement officials said police were told he was traveling to Washington for the Jan.6 event and were looking for him, ready to arrest him for burning the house. banner.
Appearing at Monday’s video hearing, Tarrio said he did not know where the banner came from. “If I had known that the banner was from a church, it would not have been burned. I have nothing to do with the theft of the banner.”
DC Superior Court Judge Harold Cushenberry offered to withdraw from the case if Tarrio so wished. “My oldest daughter was baptized in this church,” he said.
“Judge, you don’t have to,” Tarrio replied. “You won’t need to recuse yourself.
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