Written by Sarah N. Lynch
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – Sentencing hearings for two former leaders of the right-wing group the Proud Boys convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes in the attack on the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 by supporters of Donald Trump, have been postponed, the United States said. the Justice Department said on Wednesday.
A spokeswoman for the US Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia said in a statement that sentencing hearings would not continue “due to an emergency.”
“When we get more information, we will share it,” she added.
Prosecutors had planned to ask US District Judge Timothy Kelly to sentence Enrique Tarrio, the group’s former chief, to 33 years in prison and to sentence co-defendant Ethan Norden, another former leader, to 27 years.
The recommendations go beyond the longest sentence handed down to date in connection with the assault on the seat of government by supporters of the former president, including Oath Keepers founder Stuart Rhodes, who was sentenced in May to 18 years in prison.
The attack was intended to prevent Congress from certifying the election of Democratic President Joe Biden, which Trump falsely claims was the result of massive fraud.
Trump currently leads a wide lead in the race for the Republican nomination to challenge Biden in 2024.
(Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by Scott Malone, Alistair Bell and Mark Porter)
