 Two former leaders of the American far-right Proud Boys group have been handed long jail sentences for their prominent roles in the US Capitol attack. Joseph Biggs, a US army veteran who headed the group's Florida chapter, was an instigator of the storming of Congress on January 6, 2021. He was sentenced to 17 years in prison after a court heard he used his military experience to 'direct and control large groups of men' in a 'revolt against the government'. Zachary Rehl, who led the Proud Boys' Philadelphia chapter, was handed a 15-year sentence. Zachary Rehl helped organise the insurrection and sprayed officers with a chemical irritant (Picture: AP) Among the first wave of rioters to breach the Capitol, he helped overpower guards and was caught on video spraying chemical irritant at them. The pair's sentences are the second and third-longest to be handed down to anyone involved in the assault. Five people died in connection with the riots, which also led to Donald Trump being impeached for incitement of insurrection. Zachary Rehl, left, Ethan Nordean, center, and Joseph Biggs, walk toward the U.S. Capitol in Washington ahead of the assault (Picture: AP) After Trump gave a speech calling on supporters to 'fight like hell', hundreds marched on the building and broke through police lines. The attack forced lawmakers to flee from a joint Congres session for certifying Joe Biden's victory in the presidential election. Biggs and Rehl were convicted on charges of seditious conspiracy, which has only been successfully prosecuted a handful of times since it was created amid last-ditch efforts to stave off the American Civil War in the 1860s. Biggs was also found guilty of intimidation or threats to prevent officials from discharging their duties and interference with law enforcement during civil disorder. Donald Trump was impeached after calling on his supporters to 'fight like hell'){kind=link}
NEWS… BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT
Two former leaders of the American far-right Proud Boys group have been handed long jail sentences for their prominent roles in the US Capitol attack.
Joseph Biggs, a US army veteran who headed the group’s Florida chapter, was an instigator of the storming of Congress on January 6, 2021.
He was sentenced to 17 years in prison after a court heard he used his military experience to ‘direct and control large groups of men’ in a ‘revolt against the government’.
Zachary Rehl, who led the Proud Boys’ Philadelphia chapter, was handed a 15-year sentence.