United States | Proud, distracted boys

How America’s far right flits from issue to issue

Hostility to gay and trans Americans is the current obsession

WASHINGTON, USA - DECEMBER 12: Pro-Trump protesters and Proud Boys gathered during the "Million MAGA March" from Freedom Plaza to the US Capitol in Washington, DC, United States on December 12, 2020. Rally held to back President Donald Trump's unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud in the US election. (Photo by Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) — The daft knightImage: Getty Images

Jan 19th 2023|LOS ANGELES

MORE THAN two years after supporters of President Donald Trump invaded the Capitol building, several of his most rabid fans are facing punishment. The former leader of the Proud Boys, and four of his associates, are standing trial for seditious conspiracy, or plotting to overthrow the government. It is the most serious offence levied by the Department of Justice (DoJ) against the insurrectionists. The trial kicked off on January 12th and could last for weeks. Two members of the Oath Keepers, another far-right group, were found guilty of the same charge in November, and could face up to 20 years in prison.

This article appeared in the United States section of the print edition under the headline “Proud, distracted boys”