In the year since a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection, more than 700 participants have been arrested—including 11 on charges of seditious conspiracy.
Many of the defendants have since expressed regret. Jacob Chansley—the horned marauder known widely as the QAnon Shaman—said he wishes he'd done more to keep the rioters peaceful. Dominic Pezzola, who assaulted a Capitol police officer, blamed Trump, saying the former President's rhetoric made him act "out of a delusional belief that he was a 'patriot' protecting his country." Glenn Wes Lee Croy, who infiltrated the Capitol, said he was "guilty of being an idiot and walking into that building, and again apologize to America and everyone for my role in participating."
But one Capitol Rioter said he has no regrets at all, at least not until now.
Josh Pruitt, an insurrectionist and member of the far-right Proud Boys extremist group, told CNN in an interview earlier this month:
“So you asked me if I’d do it again? I want to say yes. ... I don’t feel I did anything wrong but knowing the consequences that came out of it would be the part that would make me question it."
He was soon back in front of a judge recently for repeatedly violating his court-mandated curfew, as well as sending threatening text messages to his ex-girlfriend. Prosecutors invoked his comments on the CNN interview to argue Pruitt should be in custody until his trial. Pruitt's defense argued that he only didn't regret protesting outside the Capitol, but did regret infiltrating and defacing it.
District Judge Timothy Kelly didn't buy that, and gave him until January 18 to turn himself over to authorities for imprisonment.
Pruitt responded by threatening to go back on CNN and decry Judge Kelly. His repeated interruptions led Kelly to warn he'd have a "much bigger problem" if he failed to turn himself in by the 18. Pruitt continued interrupting, insisting he was law-abiding while slamming "BLM pieces of s**t," according to BuzzFeed reporter Zoe Tillman.
People weren't exactly sympathetic to his outburst.
Seditious Proud Boy Josh Pruitt is headed back to jail after appearing on CNN and indicating that he would storm the Capitol again. https://t.co/qyBRKBG635
Chinese proverb: “The higher the monkey climbs up the tree, the better everyone can see its ass.”
— Sanho Tree (@SanhoTree) January 14, 2022
I swear if this was a movie people would complain how unrealistic it was.
— Elizabeth.Ann.tifa (@iamelizabethadd) January 13, 2022
Awe poor baby
— Resisting (@finniastb) January 13, 2022
He still hasn't learned a thing.
— Theresa (@Bibliophile23) January 13, 2022
Crocodile tears for the judge but big macho man for the people. Leave him in jail and throw the key away.
— Maria🌷Chiky 🌊🇵🇷🇺🇲 (@MariaNMerkd) January 14, 2022
Some even felt the court was too lenient and never should've allowed Pruitt's release in the first place.
19 arrests, 8 convictions and they're going to let this guy have to the 18th to turn himself in? Who thinks this solid citizen will show, not I.
— jlang39 (@Oldnotdone) January 13, 2022
It's infuriating that a man who was already under supervision, who *clearly* violated it to commit treason and can't be trusted, was released in the first place.
— Tom is vaxxed and boosted (@someguynamedtom) January 14, 2022
With his rap sheet, why the hell was he not in jail even before Jan 6?
— Joanne T 🇺🇸 (@Notonmywatch560) January 13, 2022
Pruitt, who told Judge Kelly he was a law-abiding citizen, has 19 prior arrests, eight convictions, and was wearing an ankle monitor as he stormed the Capitol because he was on house arrest.
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