Former Proud Boys Leader, 4 Others Charged With Seditious Conspiracy Related to United States Capitol January 6 Attack

Former Proud Boys leader Henry "Enrique" Tarrio is facing new federal charges of seditious conspiracy with four top associates as federal prosecutors ramp up their case against the extremist group.

USA Today News reported the case is related to the deadly January 6 United States Capitol attack.

The conspiracy case was filed against Tarrio, 38; Ethan Nordean, 31; Joseph Biggs, 38; Zachary Rehl, 37; and Dominic Pezzola, 44.

All of them are detained on the earlier charges, with the new indictment adding two charges: one count of seditious conspiracy and one count of conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties.

The defendants are now facing nine charges, except for Pezzola, who has an additional robbery charge.

Proud Boys Sedition Charge in Capitol Attack

The charge of seditious conspiracy requires prosecutors to show that at least two people agreed to use force to overthrow government authority or delay the execution of a U.S. law. It carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, according to the New York Times report.

It was not immediately clear what evidence caused the new charges.

However, the indictment highlighted the central role played by the Proud Boys in the effort to forestall former U.S. President Donald Trump's defeat while "opposing the lawful transfer" of power by force by breaching the U.S. Capitol.

Caroline Edwards, a Capitol Police officer who was injured, was part of the group to present live testimony.

Nick Quested, a British documentarian filming the Proud Boys amid the riot, is considered by the committee likely to have been a witness to their conversations planning for January 6.

Quested accompanied the Proud Boys to pro-Trump rallies in Washington in November and December 2020. He was also present with a camera crew the day before the attack when Tarrio met in an underground parking garage near the Capitol with a small group of pro-Trump activists.

January 6 Capitol Riot

Rep. Liz Cheney called the Capitol attack a "conspiracy," describing its fallout as an "ongoing threat."

Cheney said in a CBS Sunday Morning interview reported by USA Today that the matter is "extremely broad" and "extremely well-organized."

She also referred to the "willingness of many Republican Party members" to turn a blind eye to Trump's efforts to overturn the election. Cheney said many GOP members are not taking their "responsibility seriously," adding that some have pledged their allegiance and loyalty to Trump.

The Wyoming lawmaker said that she hopes the nation will pay attention to the committee's revelations, exposing the fragility of American democracy.

Court records noted the legal strategy behind Trump's efforts to reject votes in some states, with some Republican lawmakers discussing martial law.

Cheney called out House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, alleging that he has chosen to "embrace more hateful sects of his party" in hopes of becoming the next House speaker.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Mary Webber

WATCH: Proud Boys charged with sedition in January 6 attack - from CBS Evening News