By Dominic Taylor-
The leader of the Proud Boys has finally admitted in an interview that he doesn’t think the US election was ‘stolen’ from former president Donald Trump.
Enrique Tarrio also stated that he didn’t support the actions of the various Proud Boys who participated in the deadly insurrection at the Capitol on January 6. However, he didn’t go as far as to condemn the individuals involved, stating, ‘I think condemn is a very strong word.’
His admission comes after wide condemnation of rhetoric by the former president suggesting the U.S 2020 elections were stolen.
Tarrio admitted he didn’t have any sympathy for the members of congress who were left fearing for their lives as the mob stormed the Capitol, remarking, ‘I’ll celebrate the moment that the government fears the people.
The day after the insurrection, Tarrio tweeted a photo of House members hiding from the pro-Trump mob, captioned, ‘When the people fear the government, there is tyranny … When the government fears the people … There is liberty.’
Tarrio claimed this was a quote from former president Thomas Jefferson, however there is no evidence to suggest Jefferson ever said that.
Enrique Tarrio didn’t express any regrets about this tweet, stating:
I’m not gonna cry about people who don’t give a crap about their constituents. I’m not going to sympathize with them.
He added, ‘I’m not going to worry about people that their only worry is to be re-elected.’
He himself had not been present at the riots, having been arrested two days earlier for setting fire to a church’s Black Lives Matter banner in December. However, he also said that he does understand why members of the mob were so frustrated.
Terrio stated that he doesn’t believe the elections were stolen, He said: ‘I don’t believe that the election was stolen.’