Proud Boys Trial: Right-Wing Extremist Group Once Viewed Itself as 'Trump's Army' But Used as Scapegoats
Once, the far-right extremist group, the Proud Boys, viewed themselves as "Trump's Army." However, their lawyers argued that Donald Trump was using them as scapegoats. Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The far-right extremist group, Proud Boys, has once viewed themselves as "Trump's Army." However, as the January 6 seditious conspiracy trial wrapped up, a lawyer of a Proud Boys leader argued that former President Donald Trump was using his client as a scapegoat.

The trial of the Proud Boys finally wrapped up Monday with both sides presenting their closing statements to jurors after hearing three months of testimonies.

The far-right extremist group's leader, Enrique Tarrio, of Cuban descent, and four of his lieutenants were facing charges of seditious conspiracy as they allegedly plotted to forcibly stop the transfer of power from Trump to President Joe Biden.

According to the Associated Press, the group was armed and ready for "all-out war" on January 6. Tarrio became one of the top targets of the Justice Department's January 6 Capitol riot investigation. He has been accused of leading the Proud Boys from afar during the Capitol insurrection.

Prosecution Paints Proud Boys as 'Trump's Army' During Trial

In his closing statement, prosecutor Conor Mulroe told the jury that the right-wing group "lined up behind Donald Trump and willing to commit violence on his behalf."

He added: "These defendants saw themselves as Donald Trump's army, fighting to keep their preferred leader in power no matter what the law or the courts had to say about it."

The prosecution wanted to make it clear that on January 6, 2021, the Proud Boys were armed and willing to commit violence.

The group reportedly got empowered after Trump told the group to "stand back and stand by" during his first presidential debate with Joe Biden. Prosecutors repeatedly played that clip to show the Proud Boys' loyalty to Trump and his cause.

According to The Guardian, standing on trial alongside Enrique Tarrio were Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Dominic Pezzola. Nordean served as a Proud Boys chapter president in Auburn, Washington, while Biggs was a Proud Boys organizer in Florida.

On the other hand, Rehl was president of a chapter in Philadelphia, while Pezzola was a member from New York.

Proud Boys Lawyer Claims Donald Trump Using His Client as January 6 Scapegoat

While the prosecution painted the Proud Boys as Donald Trump fanatics, the defense blamed their actions on the former president, with Enrique Tarrio's attorney, Nayib Hassan, arguing that Trump should be the one blamed for extorting supporters to "fight like hell" in his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.

"It was Donald Trump's words," Hassan said in his closing statement. "It was his motivation. It was his anger that caused what occurred on January 6 in your beautiful and amazing city. It was not Enrique Tarrio. They want to use Enrique Tarrio as a scapegoat for Donald J. Trump and those in power."

According to NBC News, the attorneys for the other Proud Boys on trial also echoed this argument, with Norm Pattis, an attorney for Biggs, telling jurors that "their commander-in-chief sold them a lie."

While seditious conspiracy is a rarely-used charge, it was successfully used against another pro-Trump extremist group, the Oath Keepers, whose leaders and members were also found guilty of seditious conspiracy.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Closing Arguments Underway in Proud Boys Seditious Conspiracy Trial - From CBS News