ABC News reports:
Prosecutors were seeking 33 years in prison for Joe Biggs, the former leader of the Proud Boys’ Florida chapter, and 30 years for Zachary Rehl, the former leader of the group’s Philadelphia chapter. Biggs, a U.S. army veteran, was leader of the group’s Florida chapter and a close ally of the former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio.
Prosecutors have characterized Biggs as the “tip of the spear” for the mob throughout the Capitol attack in his role as co-leader of the so-called “Ministry of Self Defense,” a planning team that later evolved into the Proud Boys’ ground operation on Jan. 6.
“The evidence at trial demonstrated that Biggs was a vocal leader and influential proponent of the group’s shift toward political violence,” prosecutors said in their sentencing memo for Biggs.”
And here’s the sentence.
Give the many tweets below a minute to fully load.
BREAKING: Joe BIGGS gets *17 years* in prison. Half of the government’s request and one year shorter than Stewart RHODES’ lengthiest sentence
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) August 31, 2023
BREAKING: Judge Kelly sentences Joe Biggs to 17 years in prison. DoJ was asking for 27-33.
— Mueller, She Wrote (@MuellerSheWrote) August 31, 2023
Joe Biggs awaits sentencing today.
Norm Pattis, an attorney for Biggs, said in closing arguments at trial that the Proud Boys’ “commander-in-chief” — former President Donald Trump — “sold them a lie,” referring to the lies about the 2020 presidential election. pic.twitter.com/FMeIoNzOuO— Jack the Sniper (@silentstorm012) August 31, 2023
Joe Biggs, seen here leading a group of Proud Boys chanting “FUCK AROUND, FIND OUT” on Jan. 6, is likely to face the longest sentence of any Capitol attack defendant to date. pic.twitter.com/oacCedtaQF
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 31, 2023
Since Proud Boy Joe Biggs is being sentenced with an enhancement for terrorism, I think it’s worth pointing our that he was a “friend” of Michael Hastings until he died in a mysterious one car crash after emailing Biggs.
Then Biggs went on Alex Jones to make stuff up about it. https://t.co/G4Fn8yNMVE
— Jim Stewartson, Anti-disinfo activist 🇺🇸🇺🇦💙 (@jimstewartson) August 31, 2023
Since Joe Biggs is trending, I’ll just leave this here.#TrumpBastardBathttps://t.co/LPNHV6aMUh
— 🕊Hirondelle🕊 (@realHirondelle) August 31, 2023
Joe Biggs: “I was seduced by the crowd… my curiosity got the better of me and I will have to live with that for the rest of my life.”
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) August 31, 2023
Judge Kelly notes Biggs’s “admirable” military service. And notes Biggs has no criminal record
Judge: “Despite the fact that you’re under enormous stress, you’ve always treated these proceedings with respect”
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) August 31, 2023
“I apologize for my rhetoric,” Biggs said. He used it as a way to deal with what was going on with his family, he says his daughter was molested by a family member on her maternal side. “I’m so sorry… I’m not a terrorist, I don’t have hate in my heart.”
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 31, 2023
Argh! What the hell does that have to do with his attempt to overthrow the U.S.? A career car thief is less of a threat to America than Joe Biggs. https://t.co/v0zyR2fwBb
— Jeff Sharlet (jeffsharlet.bsky.social) (@JeffSharlet) August 31, 2023
FUN FACT: Joe Biggs had close ties to the Trump White House, dining with Lindsay Graham and Donald Trump at the Trump International Hotel in DC in 2019. https://t.co/lIwQo3W538 pic.twitter.com/8DQaC4GIaS
— New York City Antifa (@NYCAntifa) August 31, 2023
