Years after the violent attack on the Capitol perpetrated by supporters of Donald Trump who were inspired by his lies about the 2020 presidential election, efforts at the federal Justice Department to hold those involved accountable are continuing. That group doesn’t necessarily exclude Trump, although the investigation into political schemes in which he was involved after the 2020 presidential election with the aim of staying in power is now the work of Special Counsel Jack Smith.
Recently, prominent individuals involved in the far-right group the Proud Boys, which is one of several similar far-right organizations that were involved in the Capitol violence, were convicted of seditious conspiracy in connection to the Capitol riot. Those convicted included Enrique Tarrio, a former national leader of the group, and these convictions came after earlier convictions on the same allegations of individuals involved in the Oath Keepers. Prosecutors want 25 years in prison for that other organization’s national leader, Stewart Rhodes, who was among those convicted after efforts like stockpiling weapons and clamoring for the invocation of federal rules that would’ve evidently allowed Trump to call up a militia.
After those from the Proud Boys were convicted, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland restated the Justice Department’s commitment to, well, justice in these cases. “Today’s verdict makes clear that the Justice Department will do everything in its power to defend the American people and American democracy,” Garland said. “Our work will continue. At my Senate confirmation hearing just over a month after January 6th, I promised that the Justice Department would do everything in its power to hold accountable those responsible for the heinous attack that sought to disrupt a cornerstone of our democracy: the peaceful transfer of power to a newly elected government. And as I have said repeatedly, the Department will conduct all of its work in a manner that adheres to the rule of law and honors our obligation to protect the civil rights and civil liberties of everyone in this country. Today’s verdict is another example of our steadfast commitment to keeping those promises.”
