Enrique Tarrio Arrested Again: A Seditionist Shows his True Colors
After being pardoned by President Donald Trump, the former Proud Boy leader has been charged with assault.
Insurrectionists never change, do they? After President Trump pardoned the 1,500-plus rioters, it seemed like these dangerous rioters would sneak their way back into the shadows.1 2 However, in the case of Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boy leader, that isn’t the case. Tarrio, like most bullies, couldn’t help but demonstrate just how ugly and broken he truly is. This time, he decided to ‘allegedly’ assault a woman for the unacceptable act of protesting against him.
As the Associated Press explains:
“Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested Friday near the U.S. Capitol on a charge that he assaulted a woman protesting a gathering attended by Tarrio and others who received presidential pardons for crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the nation’s capital.
Capitol police said officers saw Tarrio strike the protester’s cellphone and arm after the woman placed the phone close to his face as they walked near the Capitol. Tarrio had just left a news conference that had ended “without incident,” police said.
“The woman told our officers that she wanted to be a complainant, and the man was arrested for the simple assault,” police said in a statement.” 3
While it is horrifying that Tarrio decided to attack an unarmed woman for exercising her rights in defying him, it isn’t entirely surprising. Having been the leader of a neo-fascist group, the Proud Boys, this attack fits the modus operandi for bullies like him. The Proud Boys, founded by former Vice News co-founder Gavin McInnes, has thrived on violence and the subjugation of their political opposition.4 It is only through this violence and abusive nature that they maintain their relevance.
Conclusion
While it isn’t clear what will happen to Tarrio, the fact remains that he, like most of his allies, is nothing more than a childish and violent criminal who doesn’t contribute anything but cruelty and subjugation to society. Tarrio and all of his ilk should be remembered as the violent, parasitical criminals that they are until the day they die.
Michael Kunzelman and Alanna Richer, “Trump Grants Sweeping Pardon of Jan. 6 Defendants, Including Rioters Who Violently Attacked Police,” AP News, January 21, 2025, sec. Politics, https://apnews.com/article/capitol-jan-6-pardons-trump-justice-department-8ce8b2a8f8cb602d5eaf85ac7b969606.
Tom Dreisbach, “Criminal Records of Jan. 6 Rioters Pardoned by Trump Include Rape, Domestic Violence,” NPR, January 30, 2025, sec. Investigations, https://www.npr.org/2025/01/30/nx-s1-5276336/donald-trump-jan-6-rape-assault-pardons-rioters.
“Ex-Proud Boys Leader Enrique Tarrio Arrested near Capitol on Assault Charge after Press Conference,” AP News, February 21, 2025, sec. Politics, https://apnews.com/article/proud-boys-leader-enrique-tarrio-arrested-a1b88e26b17e21193fbf92ad0e9a65e2.
Jane Coaston, “The Proud Boys, Explained,” Vox, October 15, 2018, https://www.vox.com/2018/10/15/17978358/proud-boys-trump-biden-debate-violence.