Ethan Nordean, a leader of the far-right Proud Boys group, has been sentenced to 18 years in prison for his part in the violent attack on the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Nordean was among five Proud Boys members who were found guilty of seditious conspiracy in May, a rare and serious charge that accuses them of trying to overthrow the government. The other four members received prison terms ranging from 8 months to 17 years.
The sentences are some of the longest and most severe for those involved in the January 6 riot, which was sparked by former President Donald Trump’s false claims that the 2020 election was rigged. More than 800 people have been charged in relation to the riot, and over 300 have pleaded guilty.
The sentences also come as Trump faces criminal charges for allegedly inciting the riot and obstructing justice. Trump has denied any responsibility for the riot and has not pardoned any of his supporters who participated in it.
The sentences for Nordean and the other Proud Boys members are a clear sign that the Justice Department is not letting the January 6 attack go unpunished and will hold those accountable who attempted to disrupt the peaceful transfer of power.
However, some of Trump’s allies have defended the convicted rioters and called for their release. Republican US Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene said they “need to be pardoned” and claimed they were “political prisoners.”
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