PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The president of the Philly Proud Boys goes on trial this week in Washington, D.C., on charges including seditious conspiracy that stem from the Jan. 6, 2021 breach of the U.S. Capitol.
Zach Rehl, 37, faces that charge in addition to obstructing an official proceeding, conspiracy, and destruction of federal property.
A federal indictment alleges, in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, former Proud Boys National Chairman Enrique Tarrio created a special chapter of the Proud Boys called the Ministry of Self Defense. Rehl was allegedly put in charge of operations.
The indictment alleges Rehl and four other Proud Boys leaders worked in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6 to plan the attack, raise funds for members to travel, and buy equipment like encrypted radios to stay in communication.
The indictment quotes Rehl and the others in text conversations on chat logs, and it details when and how the group crossed police barriers and smashed windows to gain entry to the Capitol. Rehl is quoted in the indictment as telling prospective members Jan. 6 would be different than a typical march.
Rehl’s lawyer says the government will have to prove her client “conspire[d] to overthrow, put down, or to destroy by force the government of the United States,” but she says the indictment does not allege he used force or ever encouraged anyone else to.
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The trial is expected to last six weeks.
Sedition is the most serious charge filed against Jan. 6 participants, carrying a 20-year federal prison sentence.
The leader of the extremist group the Oath Keepers and a top lieutenant were convicted of sedition in November. Three other members of that group were acquitted of sedition, but found guilty of other charges.