Joe Biggs

Biggs is a United States Army combat veteran.[8] He suffered a traumatic brain injury during a deployment to Iraq, for which he received a Purple Heart.[9] As reported by Salon, Michael Hastings' book The Operators corroborates Biggs' service in Afghanistan as well as the sergeant's involvement "in a gruesome suicide-bombing incident". In 2007, he was stationed at Fort Bragg when arrested for domestic violence. Biggs claimed his separation from the Army was a medical retirement[5] after eight years enlisted.[10]

He also worked as a correspondent for InfoWars, where he covered the Oath Keepers' actions at the 2015 Ferguson unrest, the 2016 occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge,[11] conspiracy theories about the 2015 San Bernardino attack, and the Pizzagate conspiracy theory.[6]

In January 2017, Biggs posted online that he had been hired by Right Side Broadcasting Network (RSBN; "the unofficial version of Trump TV") to make a program focusing on the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution;[6] RSBN refuted that in April, saying they were merely speaking with Biggs and "are anything but racist or sexist here."[12]

In August 2017, Biggs was a speaker at the Boston Free Speech Rally,[2] and by 2019, was the host of a right-wing talk radio show.[13] In September 2020, Biggs was employed by Censored.TV,[14] though his show had been removed by late January 2021.[15]

Prior to the January 6 United States Capitol attack that delayed the certification of Joe Biden's presidential-election win, Biggs exhorted for Proud Boys to "turn out in record numbers [...] We will be blending in as one of you ... We are going to smell like you, move like you, and look like you. The only thing we'll do that's us is think like us!"[18] On January 5, via encrypted social media channels, he communicated with other members: "trying to get our numbers. So we can plan accordingly for tonight and go over tomorrow's plan. [...] info should be coming out [...] we have a plan".[21]

Biggs marching by the United States Supreme Court Building on January 6

Outside the Capitol Building, Biggs spoke privately with Ryan Samsel, who immediately thereafter was the first person to breach the security perimeter.[10] Biggs was one of the first to breach the building itself at about 2:13 p.m., 20 seconds behind Dominic Pezzola, who smashed a Senate window with a riot shield;[18] he was identified by the FBI via photos and videos taken there.[17] Biggs and other Proud Boys were wearing walkie-talkies to allow real-time communication,[18] and Biggs was recorded on video saying of the breach, "This is awesome!"[17] He later left the building, but returned 30 minutes later alongside some Oath Keepers, pushing their way past a law enforcement officer.[21]

On January 18, Biggs admitted to the FBI that he entered the building, but claimed he neither forced his way in, nor knew about the plan to do so.[17] On the morning of January 20, 2021, he was arrested in Florida,[11] charged with knowingly entering a restricted building without lawful authority; obstructing, influencing, or impeding an official proceeding; and willfully and knowingly engaging in disorderly conduct to impede a session of Congress.[17] In Orlando court, Biggs did not enter a plea; magistrate judge Embry Kidd released him to home detention[18] with an unsecured bond of US$25,000 (equivalent to about $27,000 in 2022),[22] pending his trial in Washington, D.C.[17]

Biggs and three other Proud Boys leaders (Charles Donohoe, Ethan Nordean, and Zachary Rehl)[23] were indicted (United States of America v. Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, and Charles Donohoe) on March 10, 2021, charged with planning and executing the Capitol attack.[3] On March 20, and based on these new charges, federal prosecutors requested Biggs return to pre-trial detention.[21] Hull attempted to leverage Biggs' alleged prior cooperation with the FBI to keep his client out on bail.[3] Judge Timothy J. Kelly revoked his bail that April, saying, "The defendants stand charged with seeking to steal one of the crown jewels of our country, in a sense, by interfering with the peaceful transfer of power. [...] It's no exaggeration to say the rule of law and ... in the end, the existence of our constitutional republic is threatened by it."[24] In July 2021, Hull complained to Kelly that Biggs' time in the Seminole County, Florida jail was subjecting his Proud Boys client to threats of violence, exacerbating his medical problems, and complicating their defense prep due to a lack of technology.[25]

On June 6, 2022, a superseding grand jury indictment (United States of America v. Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, Zachary Rehl, Enrique Tarrio, and Dominic Pezzola) was issued by the United States Attorney for the District of Columbia, Matthew M. Graves.[26] In addition to Hull, at the D.C. jury trial, Biggs was also represented by the Connecticut-based Norm Pattis, who was briefly removed from the case when his law license was suspended due to mishandling confidential documents in Alex Jones' trial for defamation.[27]

On May 4, 2023, after the three-month trial in D.C.,[28] Biggs was found guilty of seditious conspiracy; obstructing an official proceeding and criminal conspiracy thereto; conspiracy to prevent an officer from discharging any duties; interference with law enforcement during civil disorder; and destruction of government property. Judge Kelly ruled that Biggs' destruction of a fence separating rioters and police qualified the defendant for "a terrorism sentencing enhancement sought by prosecutors", who asked for a 33-year sentence. Prior to sentencing, Biggs apologized to the court, blaming his actions on personal and familial difficulties,[4] and conceded that "I know that I have to be punished and I understand".[29] On August 31, Kelly sentenced Biggs to 17 years of federal imprisonment.[4] Two days later, Biggs told Alex Jones that his veteran's pension had been revoked, and that if Donald Trump is successful in the 2024 presidential election, "I know he'll pardon me. I believe that with all my heart". On CNN Republican Town Hall with Donald Trump, the former president said that he—if elected—would look into pardoning a "'large portion' of the Capitol riot defendants."[30]