According to court documents in the prosecution of Proud Boys members, an FBI informant who joined the group and entered the Capitol during the “insurrection” on January 6, 2021, said he was led to believe he was above the law in some scenarios.
The informant, simply known as Aaron, said he and his handler discussed potential scenarios regarding the Washington, D.C. riot.
Last week in court, Aaron was questioned whether he had discussed with the agent what would happen if he ran across rioters involved in destructive behavior.
Aaron confirmed, “Yes.”
He said that in certain dire circumstances, he could resort to more drastic measures, such as breaking a window or spray painting a wall, to prevent further injury to himself. That, he reasoned, would be preferable to serious injury since it could be explained.
Once he answered, “It could be explained,” the lawyer pressed him for clarification on his meaning.
If he did something trivial in self-preservation, “I wouldn’t get in trouble,” Aaron said.
After joining the FBI in 2008, Aaron eventually became a member of the Proud Boys in 2019.
Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four “lieutenants” stand trial on allegations of interfering with President Joe Biden’s transition to the office of the Presidency after the 2020 election. Aaron says he was unaware that the plot included breaking into the Capitol on January 6.
According to Aaron, he and several other Proud Boys intervened to prevent police from closing a gate protecting the Capitol. Nevertheless, he admitted in court that he had only been authorized to execute illegal activities on behalf
of the far-left Antifa network, and that he had not been authorized or ordered to commit crimes on behalf of the Proud Boys.
Afterward, he said he was sorry for aiding the Proud Boys.
Aaron said he was unsure whether he should have entered the Capitol building.
