Prosecution rests in Proud Boys sedition trial

WASHINGTON — Federal prosecutors Monday rested their seditious conspiracy case against former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants charged with plotting to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden after the 2020 election.

Jurors will hear testimony by defense witnesses before they begin deliberating in one of the most serious cases to come out of the Justice Department’s investigation of the deadly Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection.

Defense attorneys have argued there is no evidence that Proud Boys plotted to attack the Capitol and stop Congress from certifying Biden’s electoral victory.

Norm Pattis, an attorney for former Proud Boys leader Joseph Biggs, said the Proud Boys had no plan, “no understanding” and no “implicit conspiracy” for Jan. 6.

For over two months, the jury in Washington’s federal court has heard over 30 days of testimony by more than 20 prosecution witnesses, including two former Proud Boys members who are cooperating with the government in the hopes of getting lighter sentences.

Tarrio, a Miami resident who served as national chairman of the Proud Boys, and the other Proud Boys could face up to 20 years in prison if convicted of seditious conspiracy.

Also on trial with Tarrio and Biggs are Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl and Dominic Pezzola.

Nordean, of Auburn, Washington, was a Proud Boys chapter leader. Biggs, of Ormond Beach, Florida, was a self-described Proud Boys organizer. Rehl was president of the Proud Boys chapter in Philadelphia. Pezzola was a Proud Boys member from Rochester, New York.

JOHN MINCHILLO/AP A mob loyal to President Donald Trump breaches the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021.