On Thursday an attorney representing a leading member of the right-wing Proud Boys group said that they would need the Justice Department to subpoena former President Trump as part of their ongoing seditious conspiracy trial.
Norm Pattis, the attorney for Proud Boys member Joseph Biggs, said in court that the government’s assistance was necessary for a subpoena to be served because of the Secret Service being around the former president. Pattis added that much like Trump had “called on patriots to stop the steal”, similarly they were asking Trump to “take the stand.”
Biggs and the other Proud Boys member, are the third group to be on trial for seditious conspiracy on January 6. Members of the right-wing Oath Keepers group have already been found guilty and were charged in November and January.
Biggs is one of five Proud Boys on trial for seditious conspiracy surrounding the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack. Attorneys for the five defendants have argued that Trump is in part responsible for the events that took place on that day, pointing to his remarks and public statements as proof.
During a debate in September 2020, when Trump was asked whether he condemned white supremacist and militia groups, he said “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by.”
