Saturday, July 24, 2021

7/20/21 Two Insurrectionists Plead Guilty; One Gets Sentenced

Enrique Tarrio, one of the better-known leaders of the Proud Boys, has pleaded guilty to charges involving tearing down a Black Lives Matter flag from the Asbury United Methodist Church, an historically Black church in Washington, DC and burning it on a video on a Parler account.

Besides being a visible face of a not-so-proud right-wing terrorist group (just ask Canada!), Tarrio has also worked since 2012 as a police informant, helping bring down a local gambling ring. He'll be sentenced on August 23, potentially for 180 days in jail and/or a $1,000 fine for each offense.

Tarrio, then, is something of an expert at playing both sides against the middle. Another Trump fan, Paul Hodgkins, merely had lawyers who tried their best to butter up the judge.

“The Court has a chance to emulate Lincoln. We have the chance to be as Lincoln had hoped, to exercise grace and charity, and to restore healing for those who seek forgiveness,” attorney Patrick Leduc wrote. “Alternatively, we can follow the mistakes of our past: to be harsh, seek vengeance, retribution, and revenge, and continue to watch the nation go down its present regrettable path.”

Hodgkins' lawyers said their client had made a series of "errors" -- the errors being every step Hodgkins had made as he went from Florida to the Trump rally and to the Capitol, entered the Capitol grounds and then the Capitol building, and then the Senate chamber, all the while keeping his freak (oops! -- Trump) flag flying.

Hodgkins pled guilty to one count of obstructing an official proceeding. Four other charges were dismissed. The lawyers thought he should get probation.

Naturally, Hodgkins himself was more sorry than he'd ever been in his life. He told the judge he was “truly remorseful,” that he had made a “foolish decision” and allowed himself to put his “passion” before his “principles.” He also said he recognizes that President Joe Biden is “rightfully and respectfully the president of the United States.” Ya think?

He was sentenced to eight months in prison, to be followed by by 24 months of supervised release.

That leaves only 530 or so more malefactors to go before 1/6 is sort of behind us.



https://www.huffpost.com/entry/paul-hodgkins-capitol-attack-felony-trump_n_60f5857ee4b0a771e806bfc5
https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/563765-proud-boys-leader-pleads-guilty-to-vandalism-of-historically-black?rl=1

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