US Judge Orders Detention For Alleged Proud Boy Who Blames Trump For Capitol Riots

A federal judge on Wednesday ordered an alleged member of the far-right Proud Boys be detained pending trial over his role in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, even as the man’s attorney tried to pin the blame for the riots on former President 👤Donald Trump.

Dominic Pezzola, also known as “Spaz,” is one of at least six alleged Proud Boys facing criminal charges stemming from the insurrection by Trump’s supporters at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which left 5 people dead and interrupted 🏛️Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s election victory.

Pezzola’s lawyer Jonathan Zucker, in a court filing earlier on Wednesday, echoed arguments that U.S. House Democrats have made repeatedly this week during Trump’s impeachment trial in the Senate, telling the judge his client was duped by Trump’s lies that the election had been stolen and acted on “delusional belief.”

Pezzola, who he claimed has “minimal” involvement with the Proud Boys, “was one of millions of Americans who were misled by the President’s deception,” Zucker wrote, noting there was “no rational basis for such a claim.”

“Many of those who heeded his call will be spending substantial portions if not the remainder of their lives in prison as a consequence. Meanwhile 👤Donald Trump resumes his life of luxury and privilege,” he added in a footnote.

Trump was impeached by the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives a week after the Capitol riots on a charge of inciting an insurrection. His impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate started this week.