Saying, “What happened that day didn’t honor our founders. It’s the type of thing they wrote our constitution to prevent,” Federal District Judge Tim Kelly sentenced Proud Boy leader Joseph Biggs to 17 years in prison for his role in organizing and leading the group’s participation in the January 6th Republican-led domestic terrorist attack on Congress, Scott MacFarlane of CBS News reports.
Biggs was convicted in May of multiple counts including 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 U.S. from discharging their duties; interference with law enforcement during civil disorder; and destruction of government property. Prosecutors recommended a 33-year prison sentence.
Kelly noted that while the sentence should be stringent enough to deter others from attempting the same act, he also noted that unlike other January 6th defendants, Biggs treated the proceedings respectfully. Kelly also noted Biggs stated contrition and his military service prior to sentencing, but he said Biggs’ “celebratory” statements after the attack also played into his calculation.
The sentence is one year less than given to Oath Keepers Founder Elmer Stewart Rhodes, who was also convicted of various charges including seditious conspiracy.