Joe Biggs, Proud Boys leader and former Infowars staffer, arrested over Capitol riot

Federal authorities arrested Joe Biggs, Proud Boys Leader and former Infowars staffer, in Florida on Wednesday for his involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot.

In a criminal complaint released by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), an agent revealed that they used footage taken during the riot to determine that Biggs illegally broke into the building with the intent to “obstruct, influence, or impede an official proceeding before Congress.”

“In the video, a voice off-camera says, ‘Hey Biggs, what do you gotta say?’ The person depicted below smiled broadly and replies, ‘this is awesome!’ before pulling his gaiter up to cover his face,” an FBI agent wrote in the affidavit.

The agent added that they identified Biggs by comparing the video to other images of him that were widely available online.

The agent noted that Biggs encouraged other members of the Proud Boys to attend the riot, citing a December 29 post to social media site Parlor.

In the post, Biggs said the Proud Boys would “turn out in record numbers on January 6,” and claimed, “January 6 is gonna be epic.”

As a result, the agent concluded: “Biggs did aid, abet, counsel, command, induce or procure others to unlawfully enter the U.S. Capitol by means of destruction of federal property; did unlawfully enter or remain in the U.S. Capitol as a direct result of the destruction of federal property; and did corruptly obstruct the official proceeding underway at the U.S. Capitol.”

According to the affidavit, Biggs told FBI agents he did enter the Capitol building, but claimed to come in through the already open doors.

Biggs also denied “having any knowledge of any pre-planned storming the Capitol, and had no idea who planned it.”

Facing at least three charges in connection to his actions during the Capitol riot, Biggs will appear in federal court in Orlando, Florida on Wednesday, according to local Florida television station WESH.

Another leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was arrested on January 4 upon his arrival in Washington D.C. ahead of the riot.

Tarrio was held in custody on the suspicion of destruction of property in connection to burning a Black Lives Matter flag that was torn down from the Asbury United Methodist Church on December 12.

Tarrio also faced weapon charges after police allegedly found him in possession of two high-capacity firearm magazines before the events of the Capitol riot on January 6. He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Newsweek reached out to the FBI, but didn’t hear back in time for publication.