The Proud Boys, a right-wing gang that saw many of its leaders jailed for leading the January 6th riots at the United States Capitol building, is reportedly regaining strength ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Reuters reports that the group is "preparing to emerge once again as a physical force" for former President Donald Trump on the theory that, should he win the election, he will pardon all of the gang's imprisoned leaders.
The group's recruiting efforts have only accelerated after Trump was convicted last week on 34 felony charges related to falsifying business records to cover up hush-money payments made to an adult film star.
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One Ohio chapter of the group, for example, posted a video of street brawls in the wake of the verdict under the message, "Fighting solves everything."
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"The re-emergence of the Proud Boys at Trump’s political rallies and events coincides with polls showing a majority of Americans fearing political violence will flare around November’s election," writes Reuters. "It also comes when Trump’s use of incendiary rhetoric is inspiring his supporters to target his opponents – including judges, prosecutors and political rivals – in a wave of threats that’s unprecedented in modern American politics."
During a 2020 debate with Democratic rival Joe Biden, Trump infamously told the Proud Boys to "stand back and stand by" after Biden pressed him to condemn the group.
Months later, members of the group would be leading the way in inciting a mob of Trump supporters to attack law enforcement officers and break into the Capitol, where they sent lawmakers of both parties running for their lives and delayed the certification of President Joe Biden's victory for several hours.
Trump has vowed to pardon the people who participated in the attack on the Capitol and has even referred to them as "hostages."
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