#SeditionHunters - one of the first Capitol perps hashtagged in January was finally arrested today - #ProudBoyCowboy, not just a fighter but an organizer. Charging docs (link to follow) suggest FBI is working out how to charge perps who assisted the attack in more subtle ways. 1/
#ProudBoyCowboy is Joshua Portlock of TN, identified in April by a co-worker - but #SeditionHunters helped detail his many activities. Portlock fought on the Plaza - bodycam shows him helping #BullhornLady pull barricades, & pushing police with plywood. 2/
justice.gov/usao-dc/case-m…
Besides new views from bodycam, charging docs show insight in describing Portlock's activities at the tunnel. As one of first to enter, he was at the front of police lines, where his cowboy hat got knocked off, revealing his Proud Boy beanie. But he's not the most violent.. 3/
Like most organizers, he let "normies" do the dirty work. So FBI carefully describe other ways he contributed: "his continued presence allowed other rioters to fight" and "precluded MPD Officers from closing the second set of doors"; he "leans in with his body weight..pushing" 4/
Charging docs note that #ProudBoyCowboy exited after the initial tunnel push failed, but remained at the scene and got mixed up in BOTH officer draggings, over an hour apart - not a coincidence. A key for the attack to succeed was keeping violence just enough in check... 5/
Other attackers are also involved in both officer incidents - for example #SilverSoOverIt races to intercept Fanone, shouts "make way", then also appears in Officer Miller's rescue 1 hour later. Watch in multicam video. #ProudBoyCowboy is 1 min later... 6/
After Fanone is returned, #ProudBoyCowboy arrives to get an update from officers. Many around him in this picture are also playing an org. role. Experts tell us: a hallmark of a 'hybrid warfare' attack is to seize a building without deaths, to keep the public on one's side. 7/
#ProudBoyCowboy's actions don't mean he's a nice guy - they mean he stayed at a violent attack for 1.5 hours and acted responsible for regulating it. FBI seems to know this, describe these interactions to show his authority.
For early tunnel, see also 8/
Video is by @StevieG54099097 and Consuelo Gonzalez, who is working on a new film of the violence that led to Miller's dragging - stay tuned. #ProudBoyCowboy was studied by many in the #SeditionHunters community. His case is one to read & keep tabs on. 9/
justice.gov/usao-dc/case-m…
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