Proud Boys member Jeremy Bertino is first to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy | CNN Politics
Category: News & Politics
Via: kavika • 2 years ago • 40 commentsBy: Hannah Rabinowitz,Holmes Lybrand (CNN)
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
A man wears a Proud Boy vest as several hundred members of the Proud Boys and other similar groups gathered at Delta Park in Portland, Oregon on September 26, 2020. - Far-right group "Proud Boys" members gather in Portland to show support to US president Donald Trump and to condemn violence that have been occurring for more than three months during "Black Lives Matter" and "Antifa" protests. (Photo by Maranie R. Staab/AFP/Getty Images) Maranie R. Staab/AFP/Getty Images CNN —
Jeremy Bertino, a top lieutenant to Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio, pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in federal court on Thursday, and is cooperating with the Justice Department's investigation into the far-right extremist group.
Bertino, 43, also pleaded guilty to unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person. He is the first member of the Proud Boys to plead guilty to seditious conspiracy - a major boost to the historic prosecution of the organization.
He could spend more than five years in prison, according to his plea agreement, which was read aloud in court, though prosecutors could ask a judge for a lesser sentence depending on his level of cooperation with the investigation.
The judge did not set a sentencing date. Bertino's next hearing is scheduled for February 2023. Bertino will not be held in jail. He will not be able to have a passport or firearms, and will not be able to return to Washington unless it is to meet with prosecutors or participate in court proceedings.
Bertino was listed in previous indictments as "PERSON-1," but has not publicly faced charges. He is not alleged to have been in Washington, DC, on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors have previously outlined his involvement in Proud Boys leadership and extensive planning meetings and chats.
Even though he was not present for the Capitol riot, Bertino could provide crucial testimony for prosecutors in the Proud Boys seditious conspiracy trial, which is set to begin in December of this year.
According to the Proud Boys seditious conspiracy indictment, Bertino was in a number of encrypted group chats meant to plan for January 6. The groups, including the main "Boots on Ground" channel, included all of the Proud Boys sedition defendants - Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl. They have pleaded not guilty.
Bertino posted instructions for January 6 in the chats, prosecutors say, telling Proud Boys where to meet and to not wear the usual Proud Boys colors, though he ultimately did not travel to Washington because he was recovering from a stab injury from a previous DC rally.
After 1 p.m. on January 6, Bertino, along with another member of the group posted messages in a Proud Boys chat to "Push inside! Find some eggs and rotten tomatoes!" and asking if "they deploy the mace yet," according to the indictment.
Bertino posted publicly to rioters, writing "DO NOT GO HOME. WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF SAVING THE CONSTITUTION."
Bertino also texted Tarrio on the evening of January 6, saying: "Brother. You know we made this happen" and "I'm so proud of my country today," according to the indictment. "I know," Tarrio allegedly replied.
According to prosecutors, Bertino later replied "1776 motherf*****s" to Tarrio, adding later "Dude. Did we just influence history?"
"They HAVE to certify today!" Bertino allegedly texted. "Or it's invalid."
The same day Tarrio was arrested in March 2022, investigators executed a search warrant at Bertino's house, according to court documents. Agents found six firearms, including an AR-15 rifle with a scope, and more than 3,000 rounds of ammunition, prosecutors said. Bertino had previously been convicted of a felony and was not allowed to own a firearm.
Bertino previously testified to the House select committee investigating January 6, and a clip of his testimony was played at a public hearing in June.
The committee used a clip from Bertino's deposition to show how former President Donald Trump's call for the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" during a 2020 presidential debate when asked if he was willing to condemn White supremacists and militia groups in turn energized individuals from the Proud Boys and other extremist groups.
When asked if the membership to the Proud Boys increased after Trump's "stand back and stand by" comment, Bertino testified, "Exponentially. I'd say tripled probably. With a potential for a lot more probably."
He also may be eligible for witness protection, according to his plea agreement.
CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the year of Enrique Tarrio's arrest and the search of Jeremy Bertino's residence. The events took place in March 2022. This story has also been updated with additional details.
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CNN's Annie Grayer contributed to this report.
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The first guilty plea to seditious conspiracy and four more of the Proud Boys are charged with the same crime. I believe that some of the ''Oath Keepers'' are facing the same charge.
Interesting that he would plead guilty to a serious crime when it has been claimed that the insurrectionists were merely tourists.
LOCK 'EM UP !!!!!
first fuck them up and then lock them up, for a long, long time...
20 years sounds about right.
it's amazing what can be accomplished by a lifer for a $100 commissary account deposit...
And throw away the key.
Yes Virginia, there was a January 6th Conspiracy...
Exactly.
I think I heard yesterday that one of the Oath Keepers under indictment has admitted that the group had contact with Republican senators prior to Jan 6th .
At the start of all this a lot of people on the right were laughing at the prospect of sedition charges against some of these traitors. Now one has pleaded guilty of just that.
In related news, the DA in Georgia is coming closer to indicting people, including Trump, for illegally attempting to steal the presidential election in that state in 2020. Indictments could come shortly after the mid terms.
I believe that the Jan 6th committee is going to present evidence that the Proud Boys and the Oath Keepers are connected during the insurrection.
It's already been well established that Roger Stone and some MAGA Senators had these guys as "security". Stone couldn't leave town fast enough when the shit hit the fan. That was all on video.
Paul Gosar, Andy Biggs, (Large) Marge Tayor Green, Matt Gaetz, and Lauren Boebert have all had security contracts, personal contact and speaking engagements with Proud Boys, Oath Keepers or Three Percenters. Now if any of them can be legally linked as accessories to crimes we might be on our way to be rid of this stain.
I would love to see that along with some jail time.
Honestly, I'd be happy if we could just shove them all back into the sewer they crawled out of. Jail time might be too much to hope for.
it's pretty funny watching them throw each other under the bus...
That is fun to watch.
"I think I heard yesterday that one of the Oath Keepers under indictment has admitted that the group had contact with Republican senators prior to Jan 6th .
At the start of all this a lot of people on the right were laughing at the prospect of sedition charges against some of these traitors. Now one has pleaded guilty of just that."
Confirming what we knew in the first place along with the 'tours' given a day or so before.
Every goddamned one of those republican senators belongs behind bars with these scum, traitorous scum, which they all are.
I like that one. Very clever.
Too bad the photo isn't real. The crimes are
Good point.
I wonder where all those that were supporters of the ''tourists'' defense are?
stocking their bunkers with $500 -10 gallon buckets of instant mac and cheese...
speaking of insurrectionists
when did lauren boebert dye her hair blonde?
Hopefully, this will lead to the convictions of all of the traitors.
Well they have taken the first step, I'm sure that the moosh noosh that pleaded guilty will be throwing them under the bus.
Since he has apparently agreed to fully co-operate with the prosecution, that should significantly advance the government's case.
what's interesting is that both prosecution and defense have agreed that trump instigated the insurrection.
Sedition: noun - conduct or speech inciting people to rebel against the authority of a state or monarch.
If Trump didn't have 30-40% of this country dancing on his palm he would have already been arrested and prosecuted for sedition for that speech January 6th. I believe the hesitation is clearly one of the Justice Department not wanting to poor gasoline on the flame of right wing conservatives many of whom are anxious for a second civil war.
I agree. the DOJ has to build this case from the bottom up to eliminate any cause for question by all the rwnj conspiracy nuts willing to grasp any straw available, rather than admit they were wrong about their treasonous hero.
have you read the preceding comments? does beyond a reasonable doubt ring any bells? besides, we can't have all of our hospitals, coroners, crematoriums, and funeral homes over run with gullible and treasonous morons...
Clearly anyone with 5th grade reading comprehension can tell that's not what I said. I said the Justice department is possibly hesitating in bringing charges against Trump because they are fearful that if they proceed too fast and/or don't have an absolute airtight slam dunk case that even dumb fuck morons can understand, Trumps sycophants could rear their ugly heads once more as they did January 6th and start an all-out attack on the government and what they see as "liberal, progressive secular Godless" American society.
Not the news.
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