The leader of the radical right-wing group “Proud Boys”, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, has been sentenced by a court in Washington to a prison sentence of 155 days. Tarrio had confessed to property damage and possession of weapons accessories in the proceedings, the US Department of Justice said on Monday. The rest of the sentence – another 85 days – would be suspended for a three-year probation period. Tarrio was also ordered to pay a $ 1,000 fine and $ 347 in compensation to a church that suffered the damage.
Tarrio had been involved in burning a “Black Lives Matter”banner stolen from the church by members of his group in December on the sidelines of a demonstration against US President Donald Trump’s election defeat in Washington. The boss of the” Proud Boys”, who comes from Florida, had admitted the act in an interview with the “Washington Post”. Tarrio was subsequently arrested two days before a pro-Trump demonstration on January 6 in Washington. The police found two firearms magazines at his home.
By order of the court, Tarrio had to leave the US capital until his trial. The day after, Trump supporters stormed the Capitol, including members of the” Proud Boys, ” several of whom face trial. During the election campaign, Trump sparked enthusiasm on the right with statements about the “Proud Boys”. In a TV debate with the ultimately victorious challenger Joe Biden, Trump had refused to clearly condemn radical right-wing groups. At that time he said: “Proud boys – stand back and stand ready.«
