Topline
A Washington, D.C., police officer was arrested and charged Friday for allegedly obstructing an investigation into former Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio, according to the Justice Department, after the officer leaked confidential information to Tarrio and other members of the far-right group.
Proud Boys chairman Enrique Tarrio was charged with burning a Black Lives Matter flag in 2021.
Key Facts
Metropolitan Police Department Lt. Shane Lamond was charged Friday with one count of obstruction and three counts of making false statements, the Justice Department announced Friday.
Lamond, 47, allegedly told Tarrio that law enforcement had issued an arrest warrant for him, after Tarrio—who was later sentenced to 155 days in jail—burned a Black Lives Matter during a protest in December 2020.
Lamond also allegedly lied about his relationship with Tarrio during an interview with federal investigators in June 2021, according to the indictment, which cites messages sent between the two starting in July 2019.
In the weeks before the January 6 riot, Lamond told Tarrio the FBI and U.S. Secret Service were “all spun up” after an Infowars segment suggested Proud Boys members were planning to dress as supporters of President Joe Biden during his inauguration and asked Tarrio whether the group would be present during a rally held by Trump supporters.
The Metropolitan Police Department will conduct an internal investigation into the incident after Lamond’s court proceedings have concluded, spokesperson Paris Lewbel told CNN.
Crucial Quote
Two days after the January 6 riot, Lamond said in a Telegram message to Tarrio: “Of course I can’t say it officially, but personally I support you all and don’t want to see your group’s reputation dragged through the mud.”
Tangent
Tarrio and three other Proud Boys members were convicted last month of seditious conspiracy, following four months of court proceedings. Prosecutors argued Tarrio organized and directed an attack on the Capitol and cited messages that indicated the group would keep former President Donald Trump in power “by any means necessary, including force.” Tarrio’s attorneys unsuccessfully called for Lamond to testify in Tarrio’s defense, suggesting Lamond was attempting to prevent Tarrio and the Proud Boys from causing violence, according to the Associated Press.
Key Background
Lamond was placed on administrative leave in February 2022 after an investigation linked him with Tarrio and the Proud Boys, a group formed in 2016 by Vice cofounder Gavin McInnis, according to the Washington Post. The group was described by McInnis as an all-male club for “Western Chauvinists,” and became known for their involvement in street brawls and face-offs with left-leaning protestors in recent years. When Trump was asked about far-right extremist groups and the Proud Boys during a debate in September 2020, he responded, “Proud Boys, stand back and stand by,” and added, “Somebody’s got to do something about antifa and the left.” Lamond, who supervised the intelligence branch of the Metropolitan Police Department’s Homeland Security Bureau, served with the department for 24 years. Mark Schamel, Lamond’s attorney, previously suggested Lamond’s relationship and communication with Tarrio was never inappropriate, adding he was a “decorated veteran” and “doesn’t share any of the indefensible positions” of the Proud Boys or other extremist groups.
Further Reading
Four Proud Boys Found Guilty Of Seditious Conspiracy Over January 6 (Forbes)
D.C. Police Lieutenant Suspended Over Alleged Ties To Right-Wing Group (Washington Post)
Read More
On March 19th, a Metropolitan police officer in Washington, D.C. was accused of leaking confidential police information to the leader of the far-right Proud Boys organization, Enrique Tarrio. The officer, Linwood Barnhill Jr., faces a maximum penalty of one year in prison and a fine of up to $100,000 for the violation of the D.C. Official Code’s prohibition of sharing confidential government information.
The United States Department of Justice recently released a press statement noting that Barnhill Jr. had met with Tarrio on more than one occasion. Allegedly, Barnhill Jr. had leaked sensitive D.C. police information that was created during the preparation for President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017. This information included D.C. police deployment plans, the layout of security checkpoints, and information about police officers working in plainclothes.
The indictment alleges that Officer Barnhill Jr. was aware of Tarrio’s political affiliations and his involvement in a number of violent activities. Tarrio has been consistently identified as the leader of the Proud Boys organization, which supports President Trump and has been linked to several instances of racist and political violence. Federal prosecutors allege that Barnhill Jr. was aware of these affiliations when sharing the confidential police information, but failed to report it to the appropriate authorities.
The investigation into the officer’s misconduct is ongoing, and no official comment has been made by either the D.C. police department or Officer Barnhill Jr. himself. This incident serves as a warning to all officers that unauthorized sharing of government information is a serious offence, and that those who fail to adhere to the laws of confidentiality will be punished accordingly.
