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A U.S. judge has rejected a motion by four leaders of the far-right Proud Boys. January 6 attack In the US Capitol building.
Defendants — Ethan North, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Charles Donohoe — were charged with violating a federal law that criminalizes obstructing an official government, among other things.
The prosecution has used the obstacle in more than 230 of the 700 criminal cases against those involved in the deadly Capitol Uprising. There was a conference President Joe Biden to ensure victory in the 2020 election.
The lawyers of the four men argued that the charges should be dismissed because the basic laws were unconstitutional and should not be applied for the protection of freedom of expression.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Kelly dismissed those arguments on Tuesday, saying that criminal proceedings against four members of Proud Boys will continue.
“Whatever the political motivations of the defendants or the political messages they intended to convey, this alleged conduct is not protected by the First Amendment,” Kelly said in a 43-page ruling.
“The defendants are not accused of burning anything like burning flags, wearing black armbands or sitting or participating in protests.”
The case against the four men is the focus of an extensive investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice into the January 6, 2021 uprising when a group of former U.S. President Donald Trump raided a U.S. Capitol building.
More than three dozen people implicated in the Capitol siege have been identified by Proud Boys as leaders, members or members of the federal authorities, including at least 16 accused accused of conspiracy.
In the North, Biggs, Rehl and Donohoe were indicted in March on charges of conspiracy and obstruction of an official procedure, among others. Laurak stay in jail while they await the trial scheduled for May.
A federal judge on Tuesday denied that four far-right Proud Boy had denied a charge of conspiracy to attack the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. [File: Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo]In the North, Auburn, Washington, was the president of the Proud Boys chapter and a member of the national “Elders Council.” Biggs, Ormond Beach, Florida, is the organizer of Proud Boys. Rehl, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Donohoe, of Kernersville, North Carolina, served as president of the local Proud Boys chapters, according to their indictments.
On the morning of January 6, members of the Proud Boys gathered at the Washington Monument and headed for the Capitol before Trump was finished. addressing thousands of followers near the White House.
A large number of people broke down the pedestrian fence at the Capitol, according to the indictment. Several Proud Boys entered the Capitol building after the mob smashed the windows and forced the doors open.
In a landmark deal last week, Proud Boys member Matthew Greene pleaded guilty to assaulting the Capitol with two other members of the far-right group.
Greene traveled from Syracuse, New York, to Washington, DC, and was arrested in April after being tried by a grand jury. He is cooperating with the authorities in accordance with his allegation agreement.
About 40 defendants were allegedly affiliated far-right groups The Proud Boys have been the anti-government Oath Keepers and Three Centers charge With the conspiracy to obstruct the Capitol Congress or the enforcement of the law.
At least 165 of the 700 people charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol incident have pleaded guilty, most of them to six months in prison.
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