Proud Boys organizer arrested in Florida for riot on Capitol Hill



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Biggs appeared to be carrying a walkie-talkie during the assault on the Capitol, but he told FBI agents he had no knowledge of the planning for the destructive riot and did not know who organized it, according to affidavit.

Ahead of the riot, Biggs told his supporters on the Talking social media app to dress in black to look like the far-left antifa movement, according to the affidavit.

Biggs had organized a rally in 2019 in Portland, Oregon, in which more than 1,000 far-right protesters and anti-fascist counter-protesters clashed.

The Proud Boys are a neofascist group known for engaging in violent clashes at political rallies. During a presidential debate in September, Trump urged them to “step back and stand” when asked to condemn them by a moderator.

An online court file did not indicate whether Biggs had a lawyer who could comment.

Jesus Rivera, 37, was also arrested in Pensacola on Wednesday. He faces charges of knowingly entering a restricted building, intent to obstruct government activities, disorderly conduct and protest at the Capitol buildings.

Rivera posted a video on Facebook showing himself in the crypt of the U.S. Capitol, authorities said. The five-minute video ends with Rivera starting to exit through a window on the Capitol, according to an arrest affidavit.

An online court register also failed to list a lawyer for Rivera.

The cases are handled by federal prosecutors for the District of Columbia. More than half a dozen other Floridians have been charged in connection with the assault on Capitol Hill.

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