Proud Boys leader admits plan to storm Capitol and will testify against others

In December 2020, according to court documents filed Friday, Tarrio appointed Donohue as one of the members of the Ministry of Self Defense, a leadership group within the Proud Boys making preparations for Jan. 6.

In a new statement of offense, prosecutors said “Donohoe understood that the purpose of the rally” in Washington on Jan. 6 was “to stop the certification” of the electoral college vote. The Ministry of Self Defense leadership was broken into a “marketing” council of three people to recruit more members and an “operations” group. Donohoe was part of the marketing group, which soon expanded to at least 65 members.

As early as Jan. 4, prosecutors said, “Donohoe was aware that members” of the Ministry of Self Defense leadership “were discussing the possibility of storming the Capitol” and “believed that storming the Capitol would achieve the group’s goal of stopping the government from carrying out the transfer of presidential power. Donohoe understood that storming the Capitol would be illegal.”