Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio suggests he may be 'running for office'

Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio recently suggested that he may take matters into his own hands to confront the grievances he has with lawmakers and the U.S. government.
During an interview with CNN, Tarrio expressed interest in overthrowing the current U.S. government as he revealed his interest in running for public office. "I think right now is the time to go ahead and overthrow the government by becoming the new government and running for office," Tarrio said, according to Newsweek.
He went on to discuss the civil unrest that erupted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. Since Tarrio was apprehended hours prior to the deadly riots, he was not present at the Capitol but members of the Proud Boys were. But despite their unlawful entrance into the federal building, Tarrio criticized the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Department of Justice as he argued that members of right-wing organizations were treated unfairly.
"They need a head to roll. They need heads on pikes," Tarrio said. "The FBI and the DOJ [are] using the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers as their go-to, to show the people that they did something."
Tarrio's latest remarks come just weeks after the siege on the U.S. Capitol. Shortly after the disturbing incident, members of the Proud Boys took to Telegram to boast about leaving lawmakers in "absolute terror" after the federal building was breached. However, Tarrio made it clear he is not concerned with lawmakers or how they felt amid the deadly riots.
"I'm not going to worry about people that their only worry is to be reelected, Tarrio told CNN. "I'm not gonna cry about people who don't give a crap about their constituents. I'm not going to sympathize with them.
Tarrio added, "When they support drone-bombing children in the Middle East ... [and] those people are dead and they're just cowering because a group of misfits came into the Capitol, I'm not going to be sympathetic."
Despite investigative reports about the Capitol siege, Tarrio claims "the Proud Boys 'absolutely' did not have a plan to try and overthrow the government on January 6." He also condemned the actions of fellow Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola who was caught on camera bashing in a window with a police shield.
"I don't think that he should have done that. I think it was completely wrong," Tarrio said. "But the other seven individuals were trespassing," he added. "I think that they got caught up with the entire crowd. And they made a poor decision to go in there."
At this point, it is still unclear what position Tarrio might seek if he does run for public office.
- Far-right extremists at each other's throats over fears of who has ... ›
- Leader of Proud Boys arrested ahead of pro-Trump protest in DC ... ›
- Arrested Proud Boys leader has history of business failure -- and ... ›
- 'The mask slips': Proud Boys joining white supremacists in 'White Lives Matter' rallies across the US - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boys member who pepper-sprayed Capitol police officer catches COVID in jail - Alternet.org ›
- Here’s how the Proud Boys weaponize irony to pretend they're 'funny dudes — not Nazis' - Alternet.org ›
- The Proud Boys mark their threatening return in Oregon - Alternet.org ›
- Leaked data reveals a surprising fact about who funds the Proud Boys - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boy founder Gavin McInnes' far-right media site apparently collapsing - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boys leader accuses Trump of leaving group 'on the battle field bloody and alone' - Alternet.org ›
- Stewart Rhodes, founder of right-wing Oath Keepers militia, spotted at CPAC - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boys come creeping back out of the woodwork — one hijacked local event at a time - Alternet.org ›
- The government's disturbing treatment of the Proud Boys is a clear and present danger - Alternet.org ›
- US hid true toll of air wars -- thousands of dead civilians, many of them children: NYT - Alternet.org ›
- A 9-page document in Capitol riot investigation shows plans to attack other government buildings as well: report. - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boys leader and partners charged with seditious conspiracy in the January 6th insurrection - Alternet.org ›
- DC police officer 'privately shared' internal information with Proud Boys leader: report - Alternet.org ›
- Donald Trump to accept Proud Boys subpoena for Jan. 6 trial: Report - Alternet.org ›
- Why Trump's testimony would likely 'do far more harm than good' for the Proud Boys: ex-federal prosecutor - Alternet.org ›
- Proud Boys trial thrown into chaos after defense witness revealed as government informant - Alternet.org ›