Joe Biggs, a leader of the Proud Boys organization and former Army veteran, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison on Thursday after being convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection to the January 6th attack on the US Capitol. The sentence is the second longest handed down in the Justice Department's investigation into the Capitol attack, and Biggs was also convicted of conspiring to obstruct Congress and civil disorder. The US Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement that Biggs "served as an instigator and leader" during the attack and had "encouraged and directed other Proud Boys members to join him in the attack on the Capitol."
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Five members of the far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys, are facing nine counts, including the rarely-used charge of seditious conspiracy, in connection with the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021. Assistant U.S. Attorney Conor Mulroe has argued that the Proud Boys were “thirsting for violence, and organizing for action” before the attack and that they were “lined up behind Donald Trump and willing to commit violence on his behalf.” The jury is expected to reach a verdict soon, and the charge of seditious conspiracy carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
A lawyer representing one of the Proud Boys members on trial for seditious conspiracy is asking a federal judge to throw out the case due to prosecutors' failure to include "plainly exculpatory" US Capitol security footage aired on Tucker Carlson's show. Billionaire Elon Musk showed sympathy for Jacob Chansley, one of the rioters, by tweeting to his 130 million followers to "Free Jacob Chansley". It is yet to be seen if the judge will agree with the lawyer's request.