The lawyer for Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the violent Proud Boys organization, asked a federal judge Thursday for permission to withdraw from three cases against his client regarding last year’s insurrection.
Tarrio plans to represent himself in at least one of the case, attorney J. Daniel Hull noted in the motion filed in the US District Court in Washington, DC
“J. Daniel Hull respectfully moves the Court for permission to withdraw his appearance in this and two related cases,” wrote the attorney, referring first to a civil suit against Enrique Tarrio.
Tarrio has also been accused in two criminal cases, including one charging him with sad conspiracy.
“Mr. Hull is authorized by Mr. Tarrio to represent that Tarrio consents to the withdrawal and that he will proceed in this case [the civil action] pro se,” representing himself, the motion for withdrawal states.
Hull noted, however, that the logistics of getting written consent from Tarrio has been difficult given Tarrio’s “unexpected arrest in mid-March,” his criminal indictment, his pre-trial detention and “his movements between several jails on the Eastern seaboard.”
The judge rejected Hull’s motion Friday because of the lack of Tarrio’s signed consent.
“Although the court understands counsel’s difficulty in communicating with Mr. Tarrio, there is no exception to [the] … requirement to notify the client of the motion to withdraw,” US District Court Judge Amit Mehta wrote.
The Justice Department has indicted several leaders of the Proud Boys — which has been declared a terrorist organization in Canada — and others as key planners of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
The day before the storming of the Capitol, Tarrio met in a parking garage in Washington, DC, with Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodeswho has also been charged with a sad conspiracy,
Tarrio had been ordered