Paul Rae: Another Proud Boys member charged over Capitol insurrection

About 300 people have been arrested so far in connection with the Capitol siege

US Capitol police detain protesters outside of the House Chamber during a joint session of Congress on 6 January (Getty Images)

The US Justice Department has charged another member of the far-right group Proud Boys for his alleged role in the riots at the Capitol Hill building on 6 January.

Paul Rae from Largo, Florida, has been accused by prosecutors of obstructing the proceeding underway at the Capitol on 6 January and unlawfully entering the building amidst destruction of federal property.

Five people, including a police officer, were killed after supporters of Donald Trump breached the Capitol and wreaked havoc after the ex-president held a “Stop the Steal” rally in Washington DC. It happened as members of Congress gathered at the building to certify Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.

The evidence established from video footage and his Google location allegedly showed Mr Rae made forced entry into the Capitol building through the window that was smashed by other Proud Boys members.

Mr Rae was in direct contact with the leader of the Proud Boys, Joseph Randall Biggs, and even called him from his phone when the two were inside Capitol according to the phone records, the prosecutors said.

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“In fact, the surveillance footage showed Rae entered the building less than one minute after the door was initially opened and Rae entered the building with Proud Boys organiser Joseph Biggs, who had led a group of Proud Boys to the Capitol,” the affidavit said.

In January, Mr Biggs was arrested and charged with obstruction of proceeding, entering restricted grounds and disorderly conduct. He was later released for home confinement.

The federal agents and FBI received the information for Mr Rae’s involvement through two witnesses who identified him in the video footage. His and fellow Proud Boy Nick Ochs’s photographs were displayed in a number of news outlets.

Mr Rae is charged with two counts — corruptly obstruct, impede or influence an official proceeding before Congress and knowingly entering restricted grounds.

So far, about 300 people have been arrested for their alleged connection with the capitol siege and over 540 suspects have been identified by the investigators.