Proud Boys leader who testified in Congress hit with Jan. 6 charges

Charges against a Proud Boys leader who testified to Congress have been unsealed by the Department of Justice.

Linking to the statement of facts, WBTV reported that Jay Thaxton, 50, faces five charges including "disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds; disorderly or disruptive conduct in a capitol building or grounds; and obstructing or impeding passage in a capitol building or grounds."

According to the DOJ, "Thaxton joined rioters' efforts to breach a police line by grabbing, pushing, and pulling on police bike racks," wrote CBS News reporter Scott MacFarlane on X.

Read Also: N.C. Proud Boys had a liability — a member who was a sex offender, white supremacist and fed

Thaxton was arrested on the evening of Jan. 6 for violating the city-imposed curfew. The FBI brought him in in May 2021 to discuss his Jan. 6 arrest and answer questions about the violation.

Thaxton was then subpoenaed by the House Select Committee investigating Jan. 6, where he gave details about his chapter in the militia group. Among the things he testified to is that the president of the group was unknown because they "go by handles."

The DOJ's Statement of Facts shows more than 30 photographs of Thaxton, tracking his movements around the Capitol complex, and also shows him shoving Capitol police with the bicycle racks used as barricades at the time.

"Thaxton remained in close proximity to the police line and eventually joined in efforts by rioters to breach the police line. Specifically, Thaxton grabbed bike rack barriers being used by uniformed police officers to control the crowd, and Thaxton pushed and pulled the bike rack barriers in an effort to move them," the statement reads.

The group breached the police line shortly after 2:30 p.m.

The citizen-run internet sleuths at Sedition Hunters referred to Thaxton as "GreenGhoulGaiter" because he wore a black gaiter over his mouth with what appeared to be a green ghost on it.

Raw Story has written about Thaxton several times related to his Proud Boys activity in North Carolina. His group has also joined forces with others known for violence in a QAnon march in the state.

Read the full statement here.