Fight Over DC Officer Testimony Roils Proud Boys Sedition Case

A authorized combat has erupted over a Washington, D.C., police officer who was speaking with Proud Boys chief Enrique Tarrio within the run-up to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault that would form the end result of the upcoming trial of Tarrio and different far-right extremists.

Metropolitan Police Lt. Shane Lamond’s testimony is essential for the previous Proud Boys nationwide chairman’s protection towards seditious conspiracy and different severe expenses stemming from the assault, Tarrio’s attorneys say.

However Lamond plans to invoke his Fifth Modification privilege towards self incrimination if known as to the witness stand after prosecutors warned the officer he could possibly be charged with obstructing the investigation into Tarrio, the Proud Boy’s attorneys say. They’ve accused the Justice Division of making an attempt to bully Lamond into maintaining quiet as a result of his testimony would damage their case. Prosecutors have vehemently denied that cost.

The authorized skirmish is unfolding two weeks earlier than jury choice is meant to start in one of many highest-profile instances the Justice Division has introduced for the reason that Jan. 6 riot. Prosecutors cost Tarrio and 4 co-defendants conspired to forcibly cease the switch of presidential energy from former President Donald Trump to Democrat Joe Biden.

The Proud Boys trial will probably be one other main check for the Justice Division, which secured a significant victory final month in the seditious conspiracy convictions of two different far-right extremist group leaders: Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, of Granbury, Texas, and Kelly Meggs, who was the chief of the group’s Florida chapter. Tarrio’s far-right, male chauvinist extremist group that seized on the Trump administration’s insurance policies was a significant agitator throughout earlier pro-Trump protests and on the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Tarrio wasn’t in Washington when the riot erupted, however authorities say he helped put into movement the violence of that day. Shortly earlier than the riot, authorities say Tarrio posted on social media that the group deliberate to prove in “document numbers” on Jan. 6, however could be “incognito” as a substitute of donning their conventional clothes colours of black and yellow.

Tarrio was arrested in Washington two days earlier than the riot and charged with vandalizing a Black Lives Matter banner at a historic Black church throughout a protest in December 2020. Tarrio was launched from jail on Jan. 14, 2022 after serving his five-month sentence for that case.

Tarrio’s attorneys say Lamond has been beneath investigation for a while for potential obstruction of justice into the investigation of the Proud Boys chief.

The Washington Publish uncovered a video on-line displaying Republican candidate for Maryland governor Dan Cox accepting a present from the Maryland Proud Boys. Prince George’s County Bureau Chief Tracee Wilkins reviews.

Lamond was positioned on administrative depart by the police drive in February, stated Mark Schamel, an legal professional for the officer. Schamel stated Lamond is a “embellished veteran” of the D.C. police division and “does not share any of the indefensible positions” of extremist teams.

Lamond, an intelligence officer for the police drive, was accountable for monitoring teams just like the Proud Boys after they got here to Washington. Tarrio frequently communicated with Lamond earlier than the Proud Boys got here to the capital metropolis to debate the “goal of the journey, the agenda, and the situation,” protection attorneys wrote in court docket paperwork.

Tarrio informed Lamond that Proud Boys wouldn’t be sporting their conventional colours of black and yellow to be able to shield themselves from potential assaults from antifa activists. Tarrio informed the officer they deliberate to observe Trump’s speech, protest the outcomes of the election “and later that evening they deliberate to celebration with loads of beers and babes,” Tarrio’s attorneys wrote.

“He informed me they’re making an attempt to go incognito this time,” Lamond informed fellow officers in a single message, in accordance with Tarrio’s attorneys. “Even when they aren’t sporting their colours they are going to stick collectively as a bunch so we should always have the ability to determine them. To not point out they gained’t be head to toe in black with makeshift shields!”

As Donald Trump misplaced a authorized combat over the 2020 election outcomes, messages present members of his inside circle have been in touch with members of extremist teams just like the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers, and that many supporters introduced weapons to Washington on Jan. 6. Javed Ali, former senior director for counterterrorism on the Nationwide Safety Council, joins LX Information to debate the safety considerations revealed within the newest Jan. 6 committee listening to.

The protection says Lamond’s testimony would assist Tarrio’s claims that he was seeking to keep away from violence, not trigger it. Tarrio’s attorneys have requested the choose to dismiss the case if the federal government refuses to grant immunity for Lamond so he can take the stand.

“How can there be sedition if the Proud Boys are informing legislation enforcement of their plans on Jan. 6?” Tarrio legal professional Sabino Jauregui stated throughout a current listening to. “They do not need him to testify as a result of it’ll fully destroy their case.”

Assistant U.S. Legal professional Erik Kenerson informed the choose the suggestion that prosecutors are pressuring and threatening witnesses is “categorically false.”

Tarrio has a historical past of cooperating with legislation enforcement.

Courtroom data uncovered final yr confirmed that Tarrio beforehand labored undercover and cooperated with investigators after he was accused of fraud in 2012. After Tarrio’s indictment for taking part in a scheme involving the resale of diabetic check strips, he helped the federal government prosecute greater than a dozen different folks, in accordance with court docket papers.

Tarrio will stand trial with 4 others: Ethan Nordean, of Auburn, Washington; Joseph Biggs, of Ormond Seashore, Florida; Zachary Rehl, of Philadelphia and Dominic Pezzola of Rochester, New York.