A former Proud Boy who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, pleaded guilty last week to one felony obstruction charge for his role …
A former Proud Boy who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, pleaded guilty last week to one felony obstruction charge for his role in the insurrection. Joshua Pruitt, 40, initially faced eight counts stemming from the attack, including civil disorder, destruction of government property, and acts of physical violence in a Capitol building. But as the government works to prosecute the more than 850 people arrested in connection with the attack, federal prosecutors have offered some rioters lesser charges in exchange for their guilty pleas. Pruitt faces up to 20 years in prison, though guidelines suggest his sentence is more likely to fall between 51 to 63 months. He is set to be sentenced in August. In plea papers, Pruitt acknowledged that he nearly came face-to-face with then-Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer amid the chaos of the siege. After admitting to throwing a chair toward police officers inside the Capitol, Pruitt said he came across Schumer’s security detail waiting for an elevator as they attempted to move the lawmaker to safety.
