Enrique Tarrio, the chairman of the Proud Boys, a far-right nationalist group that is a major target of the sprawling investigation into the riot at the Capitol this month, has a history of cooperating with law enforcement, according to court records and a former prosecutor.
The stunning revelation that Mr. Tarrio, who leads one of the country’s most notorious extremist groups, helped the F.B.I. and local police departments go after more than a dozen criminal defendants about a decade ago was first reported by Reuters on Wednesday.
The news emerged as Mr. Tarrio himself has fallen under scrutiny for his role in encouraging the Proud Boys to attend a “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington on Jan. 6, after which a mob of hundreds broke into the Capitol, disrupting the final certification of the presidential election.
“Mr. Tarrio was a cooperator — like many who seek to provide information and try to obtain substantial assistance,” the former prosecutor, Vanessa S. Johannes, wrote in an email.
"far right" "notorious extremist group" "mob of hundreds busting into the capital"
Not a serious piece of journalism.
Also "helped the F.B.I. and local police departments go after more than a dozen criminal defendants about a decade ago " tries to plant the idea that he is a 5th column spy. Those criminals from a decade ago likely committed real crimes that have nothing to do with any Proud Boy activities today.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/01/27/nyregion/proud-boys-informant-enrique-tarrio.html