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Ex-Proud Boys leader given 22 years over Capitol attack

A former chairman of the right-wing Proud Boys group has been sentenced to 22 years in prison for his role in the 6 January 2021 assault on the US Capitol.

Enrique Tarrio was convicted of charges, including seditious conspiracy, for his role in planning the storming of the Capitol.

Thousands of supporters of former president Donald Trump had violently tried to stop Congress from certifying the results of an election that Mr Trump falsely claimed had widespread fraud.

Federal prosecutors had asked US District Judge Timothy Kelly to impose a 33-year prison sentence on Tarrio.

He was not present at the Capitol on the day of the attack because another judge had ordered him to stay out of Washington.

Prosecutors said he helped direct the attack from Baltimore.

Tarrio's attorneys had asked for a substantially shorter sentence.

Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly after the US Capitol attack

Judge Kelly last week sentenced another far-right Proud Boys leader, Ethan Nordean, to 18 years, less than the 27 years prosecutors had sought.

Oath Keepers militia founder Stewart Rhodes in May was also sentenced to 18 years.

More than 1,100 people have been arrested on charges related to the Capitol assault and of those at least 630 have pleaded guilty and at least 110 have been convicted at trial.

Five people, including a police officer, died during or shortly after the riot and more than 140 police officers were injured.

The Capitol suffered millions of dollars in damage.

Special Counsel Jack Smith is investigating broader efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Mr Trump, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, has been indicted for his attempts to overturn the 2020 election.