Mike Wendling
reporting from court

The sentencing hearing is underway in front of a packed courtroom here at federal court in Washington DC.

From the steps of this building you can see the US Capitol, the site of the 2021 riot which this case is about.

More than 1,100 people who participated in that riot or plotted in advance to keep Donald Trump in power have been arrested.

Around 500 of them have been sentenced to prison or house arrest.

Today it’s Henry “Enrique” Tarrio's turn to learn his fate.

The former leader of the far-right Proud Boys group is likely to have one of the longest sentences handed out yet.

Tarrio has appeared in court today wearing an orange prison-issue jumpsuit.

The judge is now running through a few legal discussions about sentencing guidelines.

Mike Wendling
reporting from court

Image source, Getty Images

Greetings from Washington DC where on a sweltering late summer day we are watching as one of the biggest criminal cases stemming from the Capitol riot of 6 January 2021 will finally reach its conclusion.

Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, the former leader of the Proud Boys, will be sentenced for his role in the attack.

Earlier this year Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy - using force to try to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power - and related charges including obstruction, civil disorder and destruction of government property.

Prosecutors want him to serve 33 years in prison, and although it’s fairly certain Tarrio won’t get that long, it’s also likely that his punishment will be among the longest given to riot defendants.

His fellow Proud Boys were sentenced last week to between 10 and 18 years.

I’ll be in the federal court here in Washington, just steps away from the Capitol itself, where the riot occured more than two and a half years ago.

This afternoon there will be a round of legal arguments around sentencing guidelines, followed by statements from Tarrio’s lawyer and family , then the Proud Boy leader will get the opportunity to address the court himself.

If previous Capitol riot hearings are a guide it will be a few hours before we hear the sentence.

Tarrio was found guilty of seditious conspiracy, a rarely-used law which prohibits using force "to prevent, hinder, or delay the execution of any law of the United States".

The law dates back to the US Civil War.

Last year two leaders of the Oath Keepers - one of the other major organised groups present at the Capitol riot - were convicted in the first successful prosecution for seditious conspiracy since 1995.

Three other of that militia were acquitted of the charge during last year's trial.

Seditious conspiracy is less serious than treason, which is the only crime specifically spelled out in the US Constitution and requires a high standard of proof - the testimony of at least two witnesses in open court or a confession.

Treason can also be punishable by the death penalty.

In May, a jury found Enrique Tarrio guilty of the following:

• Seditious conspiracy
• Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding
• Obstruction of an official proceeding
• Conspiracy to use force, intimidation, or threats to prevent officers of the United States from discharging their duties
• Interference with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder
• Destruction of federal property

We'll get into what these all mean shortly and how long he may face in prison.

• Former Proud Boys chairman Henry “Enrique“ Tarrio is expected to be sentenced to prison for his role in the 6 January Capitol riot
• The hearing, in Washington DC, begins at 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT)
• Federal prosecutors have asked for 33 years for Tarrio’s role in organising the riot
• His sentencing comes after several other Proud Boys were handed down sentences last week
• Tarrio will have the chance to make a statement in court today before given his sentence

Mike Wendling
reporting from court

Image source, Reuters

Former Proud Boy chairman Henry "Enrique" Tarrio was not in Washington DC on 6 January. So why is he charged in connection with the riot?

It's because he was arrested two days before the riot for burning a Black Lives Matter banner and on weapons charges after police found weapon magazines in his car.

He was ordered by a judge to leave DC and ended up watching events on 6 January from a hotel room in nearby Baltimore.

Tarrio - who identifies as Afro-Cuban - took over as leader of the Proud Boys in 2018.

Before that he led a somewhat chequered life in Florida. He had several businesses and was indicted in a scam re-selling diabetic test strips.

That led him to co-operate with prosecutors, and he became a prolific government informant.

After the election of Donald Trump, Tarrio was drawn into the far right, and he was at the bloody Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia in August 2017.

While he was the Proud Boys leader, he attempted to run for Congress in 2020, but withdrew before the Republican Party primary.

Prosecutors said he played a very different role in politics that year - recruiting to take part in the assault on the Capitol.

Thanks for tuning into our live coverage today.

Former leader of the far-right Proud Boys group, Henry “Enrique” Tarrio, is set to be sentenced for his role in the 6 January riot on the US Capitol.

Tarrio was convicted of seditious conspiracy, obstructing an official proceeding and other felonies in May.

Our correspondent Mike Wendling will be in court as the sentence is expected to be handed down sometime after 14:00 EST (19:00 GMT).