Tarrio’s lawyer pleads not guilty during a virtual hearing in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The judge also announced a postponement of the scheduled start of the trial on May 18. Tarrio, 38, is one of the most high-profile of the more than 775 people charged with their roles in the January 6, 2021 attack on the Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump on the day Congress convened to certify Biden victory. Tarrio and five other Proud Boys are charged with conspiracy to obstruct certification. Tarrio himself was not present at the time of the attack, unlike his co-accused. Prosecutors say Tarrio remains an active leader behind the scenes. He was arrested March 8 and remains in jail after a federal judge in Florida ruled he was a danger to the community if released. Members of various right-wing organizations have been arrested in connection with the attack on the Capitol, including the Oath Keepers militia and its leader Stewart Rhodes. During Tuesday’s hearing, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly also said he would grant the government’s request for a postponement of the trial date, adding that he would issue a written decision later in the day.
The parliamentary committee is dealing with reluctant witnesses
Tarrio was added last month as a co-accused in the case, and prosecutors said there was still a chance they could file additional charges or charge more defendants. With a full trial schedule in court, both because of the number of cases and delays from the COVID-19 pandemic, Kelly said he would delay choosing a new date until the case’s lawyers can discuss it with each other. He said he would schedule another hearing on April 21 to finalize a new trial date. In addition to the criminal cases, a select committee of the Democratic Party in Parliament is investigating “the facts, the circumstances and the causes” related to the attack of January 6, 2021. On Tuesday, Ivanka Trump was due to appear before the commission, according to three sources who spoke to the Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The former president’s daughter was among those closest to him during the Capitol uprising, and her appearance on the committee would follow that of her husband, Jared Kouchner, last week. The committee on Monday moved to advance the contempt proceedings with Trump administration officials Peter Navarro and Dan Scavino, something the committee had earlier undertaken with uncooperative former chief of staff Mark Meadows. Trump ally Steve Bannon’s refusal to work with the commission has led to a federal indictment. The committee has interviewed more than 800 people and is planning a round of public hearings in the spring. Republicans other than Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger have joined the committee, and Democrats are working hard to complete their work ahead of the November midterm elections, which could see them lose control of Parliament.
