The Proud Boys had a large presence in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021. The group's activities surrounding the attack on the Capitol have been given a high-value source of information by his cooperation. A statement of the offense signed by Donohoe is a window into the assistance he can provide.
Donohoe helped set up the Telegram communications channels Proud Boys used to coordinate their activities and helped scramble to create new ones when Tarrio was arrested on unrelated charges.
The group's members were given specialty radios so they could communicate during the Capitol attack, and Donohoe urged them to use Telegram to avoid detection, according to prosecutors. Donohoe was concerned about the possibility ofgang charges after Tarrio's arrest.
The Capitol was one of the first places Donohoe and others went to in January.
The statement of the offense states that Donohoe understood that the two men were looking for an opportunity to storm the Capitol. Donohoe followed the two men onto Capitol grounds. Donohoe believed that the actions were intended to stop the certification of the Electoral College vote.
Donohoe helped Dominic Pezzola carry a stolen police riot shield to the foot of the building after throwing two water bottles at police. Pezzola used the shield to smash a Senate wing window that led to the first Capitol building break. Donohoe left Capitol grounds after being hit by pepper balls. The other members of the group went inside.
The 15-month investigation of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol has netted about 800 arrests and spawned a nationwide search for more than 2,000 potential members of the Jan. 6 mob.
The Proud Boys case is one of a few focused on the work of extremists that prosecutors say pre-planned their efforts to interfere with the transfer of power in order to keep Donald Trump in power. About 20 members of the Oath Keepers have been charged with mounting a conspiracy to obstruct Congress, and 11 of them are facing graver seditious conspiracy charges.
The other Proud Boys leaders will go on trial in August.
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