Ex-Proud Boys leader sentenced to 22 years over U.S. Capitol riot

Enrique Tarrio, the former national chairman of the far-right group Proud Boys, was sentenced on Tuesday to 22 years in jail for his role in the January 6, 2021, riot on the U.S. Capitol.

Tarrio was convicted of "seditious conspiracy and conspiracy to obstruct the counting of electoral votes" during the transfer of power of the White House following the 2020 elections.

In that counting by the U.S. Congress, Democrat Joe Biden won 306 votes versus 232 for then the Republican incumbent, Donald Trump.

The sentence is the longest given to anyone involved in the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.

"The jury didn't convict anyone for engaging in politics, they convicted Mr. Tarrio and others of engaging in seditious conspiracy," District Judge Timothy Kelly said Tuesday.

(Xinhua News Agency)