Washington: A leader of the far-right Proud Boys was sentenced on Friday to 18 years in prison over the US Capitol attack, equalling the longest punishment in the case so far, while another member sentenced to 10 years yelled “Trump won” as he left court.
The pair were the latest members of far-right groups sentenced for taking part in the January 6, 2021, assault on Congress, an attempt to overturn Donald Trump’s election defeat.
Proud Boy member Ethan Nordean walks toward the US Capitol in support of Donald Trump on January 6, 2021.Credit: AP
The 18-year sentence for Ethan Nordean, a leader of the Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy, fell short of the 27 years prosecutors had sought, and equalled the sentence handed down to Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes in May.
“If we don’t have a peaceful transfer of power in this country, we don’t have anything,” said US District Judge Timothy Kelly.
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In a statement to the judge, Nordean called January 6 a “complete and utter tragedy” and said he had gone to the Capitol to be a leader and to keep people out of trouble. His wife and sister pleaded for mercy.
Nordean’s attorney, Nick Smith, had argued for a sentence of 15 to 21 months.
Dominic Pezzola, a member of the Proud Boys, did not play a leadership role but was convicted of felonies including obstructing an official proceeding and assaulting police. He yelled, “Trump won!” as he left the courtroom after being sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Prosecutors said Pezzola’s assault on former Capitol police officer Mark Ode, in which he stole Ode’s riot shield and used it to smash at a window at the Capitol, helped justify a lengthy prison term.