Ethan Nordean, a former leader of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys, was sentenced to 18 years in prison on Friday for his pivotal role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, equaling the record sentence related to the attack.
Prosecutors described Nordean as the “undisputed leader on the ground” during the riot, in which he and others aimed to obstruct the peaceful transition of power after the 2020 presidential election. On the same day, another Proud Boys member, Dominic Pezzola, received a 10-year sentence for breaking a Capitol window, marking the initial breach. Upon leaving the courtroom, Pezzola defiantly exclaimed “Trump won.”
Judge Timothy Kelly, a Trump appointee, delivered the sentences, invoking a terrorism enhancement in both cases. This comes after recent sentences of other Proud Boys members, with Joseph Biggs receiving 17 years and Zachary Rehl sentenced to 15 years for their roles in the riot. Over 1,100 individuals have been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, with more than 600 already convicted and sentenced. The cases spotlighted the far-right’s adoption of false claims concerning the 2020 election’s outcome.
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