Proud Boys Leadership Seeks $100 Million in Lawsuit, Declaring Themselves Victims of the January 6th Capitol Attack

In a striking echo of strategies employed by Donald Trump, members of the Proud Boys, an extremist right-wing faction, have initiated a $100 million legal action against the U.S. government, asserting their civil rights were infringed upon during their arrest and subsequent convictions tied to the January 6, 2021, Capitol insurrection. These Trump supporters aimed to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, which saw Joe Biden declared victor. Among the plaintiffs is Enrique Tarrio, the group’s former leader, who is serving a 22-year sentence for orchestrating the attack. They allege “politically motivated persecution” by the Biden administration's Department of Justice and the FBI, invoking claims of “evidence tampering” and other serious offenses. This lawsuit describes their treatment as akin to “putting enemies' heads on a spike” to intimidate dissenters. Demanding a jury trial, the Proud Boys aim for financial restitution amid a backdrop of societal division and legal scrutiny.