Last Updated on January 6, 2022
A newly-revealed video records the Proud Boys’ activities on January 6, 2021, at the U.S. Capitol, and appears to show leaders meandering aimlessly, showing the lack of any clear plan.
Zachary Rehl’s legal filing in court Wednesday claims that the video proves that Jan. 6 protesters had no plan to attack the U.S. Capitol and no advance plan to enter the Capitol building. They are being accused of a conspiracy, but the video reportedly shows a different story.
Documentary film-maker Eddie Block followed protesters through the crowds demonstrating at the Washington Monument and walking over to the Capitol. A segment of raw video, starting when they reached the Capitol totaling 1 hour and 40 minutes, was released this week.
Prosecutors accuse Zachary Rehl, Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs and Charles Donohoe of being the leaders of forces under their “command” and planning, organizing, and leading attacks on police officers and breaking into the Capitol by smashing windows. According to prosecutors, they are the masterminds, and therefore there is a risk that they might organize another one if they were out on bail. Prosecutors accuse Rehl of “a leadership role in the January 6 attack” responsible for “violent conduct of those in his command.”
The prosecution alleges in its motion to revoke Rehl’s bail that “The defendant himself ‘stormed’ the Capitol, equipped with a radio and goggles.” However, the government admits that, “To be sure, the indictment does not allege that Mr. Rehl engaged directly in violence against officers or destruction of property.” Rehl rejects that anyone was “in his command.”
The raw video shows the protesters beginning with a prayer after they reach the area of the Capitol. A group of demonstrators affiliated with the Proud Boys political group including Rehl, Nordean, and Biggs slowly wander around.
Curiously, the prosecutors claim in their motion to revoke bail that “In a Telegram message following the attack, the defendant stated, ‘That was NOT what I expected to happen today. All from us showing up and starting some chants and getting the normies all riled up.’” As a supposed organizer, Rehl was surprised at what actually happened.
Zachary Rehl has been in jail since mid-March although presumed innocent ahead of trial. Rehl is a former U.S. Marine, whose father and grandfather were respected police officers in Pennsylvania. His newborn child was born while he was in jail. His wife diligently brings the baby to see Zachary Rehl in jail a couple of times a week. The family is struggling with the loss of Zach’s monthly income and his young wife is negotiating with the mortgage company for a forbearance on their modest rowhouse.
The family is expecting legal bills totaling at least $75,000. The new mother has to struggle without Zachary Rehl’s income. The family is asking for help at www.DefendZach.com.
Rehl has also been sued in a civil lawsuit for the same issues. Rehl’s attorney confirms that the government is trying to get everyone accused to ‘cave’ and testify against others, including high-profile political figures such as Donald Trump, Rudy Guiliani, and Roger Stone.
An expensive technical consultant had to be hired to enhance the audio on another video, which shows Rehl (on the left in the green hunting cap) and other protesters undecided about whether to enter the Capitol as late as around 2:45 PM:
The Eddie Block video reportedly debunks the core allegations against the Jan. 6 defendants. The video shows Rehl and others walking around aimlessly, with no purpose in mind other than confronting members of Antifa. Rehl’s legal supplement highlights the video showing Rehl and other Proud Boys walking away from the Capitol.
Other videos described in Rehl’s motion supplement are still restricted under a protective order, but are said to also show the Proud Boys group standing around on the Mall, with no intention to charge the Capitol. In the prosecution’s motion against bail, Rehl is shown leading a group aggressively toward the Capitol. But that photograph is “cropped,” Rehl’s filing claims. Videos still under seal show the same scene with Rehl as just one in a line of 25 to 30 men abreast, not leading anyone. The video is described as showing the group walking “slowly, calmly, and peacefully.”
Various defendants from January 6 have been indicted in groups often by their affiliations. Thomas Caldwell appeared Monday on the Tucker Carlson show, Caldwell described the situation experienced by the accused demonstrators. Caldwell was indicted among a total of 19 members of the Oath Keepers. Caldwell was also alleged to be the on-site leader of the Oath Keepers.
Rehl, Biggs, and Nordean by their attorneys all filed supplements to their renewed motion to be released on bail. Rehl’s supplement gives credit to “the tireless and persistent efforts of attorneys for Ethan Nordean, Nicholas D. Smith and David B. Smith, and for Joseph Biggs, John Dan Hull, IV, pressing for the production and release of these videos.”
The video segment is 1:40 hours of raw, unedited video that Eddie Block intended to edit into a finished documentary. (The primary voice is that of the filmmaker Block. Zachary Rehl’s legal filing explains that comments like “coming through” and “make a hole” are not indications of a command structure or leader, but people trying to help wheel-chair-bound Eddie Block make a way for his wheel chair through the crowds. Block and others remind the group to “mask up” but then make clear this is to avoid “getting yelled at” over COVID-19 restrictions. Most of the group do not, in fact, put on masks in response. Experts conclude from this that the video shows a lack of any singular leader and lots of unrelated comments expressing political bravado.)
