A Texas man with ties to the Proud Boys has been convicted on several charges linked to his participation in the January 6 Capitol breach. Jeffrey David Reed, 49, was found guilty on September 18 of civil disorder, a felony charge, alongside a handful of misdemeanors.
Reed, from Rosanky, Texas, was part of the Proud Boys' Hudson Valley chapter in New York, and played an active role during the events that unfolded on January 6, 2021. According to the evidence presented in the trial, Reed was one of the individuals who pushed past police barriers near the Peace Circle, leading the charge towards the Capitol. This act ultimately facilitated the breaching of the Capitol building by a large mob.
In a bench trial concluded by U.S. District Chief Judge James E. Boasberg, Reed was also found guilty of misdemeanors that included entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly or disruptive conduct in restricted grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, Chief Judge Boasberg is slated to sentence Reed on December 20.
The courtroom heard how Reed was at the forefront when the barricades were breached and police lines overwhelmed. He was seen physically confronting law enforcement, moving barricades, and helping inflame the situation that led thousands to storm the Capitol steps. Post breach, he entered the Capitol, moving to areas near the House Chamber, and was later seen exiting and remaining on restricted grounds. The Justice Department's press release highlighted how Reed's conduct exemplified the chaos of the day, as he escalated tensions by climbing on top of law enforcement vehicles and desecrating a "Police Lives Matter" flag.
Reed's case contributes to a larger picture as more than 1,504 individuals have been charged for crimes relating to the Capitol breach, with over 560 facing charges of assaulting or impeding law enforcement. It is a stark reminder of the widespread implications of January 6, which continues to be under investigation by the FBI's San Antonio and Washington Field Offices, with the support of the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
