A judge has sentenced Joseph Biggs to 17 years in jail, short of prosecutors’ urging for 33 years. (AP PHOTO)
Former Proud Boys organizer receives a 17-year prison sentence, marking the second longest term in the January 6 Capitol riot case. On Thursday, a former leader of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group was handed a 17-year jail term for orchestrating an assault on the US Capitol. The attack aimed to obstruct the peaceful transfer of power from Donald Trump to Joe Biden following the 2020 presidential election.
Joseph Biggs, the individual sentenced, led a group of Proud Boys members and associates in marching to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. He and fellow Proud Boys participated in breaching police lines, prompting lawmakers to evacuate and disrupting the joint session of Congress tasked with certifying Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
In terms of Capitol riot cases, this sentence is the second longest, following Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, who received an 18-year prison term. While federal prosecutors initially suggested a 33-year sentence for Biggs, the court ultimately imposed the 17-year sentence. The judge, Timothy Kelly, invoked a “terrorism” enhancement, significantly increasing the recommended punishment.
During the proceedings, Judge Kelly stressed the importance of preventing a recurrence of the January 6 incident, referring to it as a severe breach of a vital American tradition. Biggs expressed regret, acknowledging his curiosity had led him astray and asserting he harbored no intention of causing harm.
Prosecutors defended their decision to seek a lengthy prison term, asserting that the actions of Biggs and his cohorts had pushed the US government to the brink of a constitutional crisis. The court proceedings also highlighted the divisive impact of lies propagated by former President Trump regarding the legitimacy of the 2020 election.
In addition to Biggs, several other Proud Boys members are facing sentencing, with Enrique Tarrio, a prominent figure within the group, scheduled for sentencing next week. The court’s handling of these cases has stirred discussions about appropriate sentencing for individuals involved in the Capitol riot, with defense attorneys advocating for leniency and unity-building measures. To date, over 1,100 individuals have been charged with federal crimes linked to the Capitol riot, and more than 600 have already been convicted and sentenced.
Source: with agencies