FBI informant who joined Proud Boys, rioted Jan. 6 says he could break the law in certain cases

An FBI informant who became a member of the Proud Boys and entered the Capitol during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot said that he understood he could break the law in some cases, according to court transcripts in the seditious conspiracy trial of Proud Boys members.

The informant, who was only identified in court as Aaron, said he discussed possible situations with his handling agent ahead of the Washington, D.C., protest.

"Did your conversation with the agent contemplate what might happen if you encountered some people engaging in bad activity?" Aaron was asked in court last week, according to documents reviewed by The Epoch Times. 

"Yes," Aaron responded. "If there’s an emergency situation, and to protect myself from physical harm or worse, I have to do something minor, like if I’m surrounded by Antifa and I have to spray paint on a wall or break a window to try and get them to leave me alone, then that could be explained and would be much better than me being severely hurt."

The attorney followed up: "So when you say that that could be explained, what is your understanding of what that meant?"

Aaron replied: "That I wouldn’t get in trouble if I did something minor like that if it was in the act of self-preservation."

Another lawyer later asked him: "I believe you stated on direct that you understood from your handler that when you were in these situations, if you did something minor, you would not get in trouble?"

"If it kept me safe," Aaron responded.

Aaron, who became involved in the FBI in 2008 and joined the Proud Boys in 2019, also testified in court that he allowed an unknown man dressed in military attire and holding a baseball bat to walk with the Proud Boys on Jan. 6. 

The trial is focusing on the alleged conspiracy of former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four lieutenants to stop the transfer of power to President Joe Biden after the 2020 election, but Aaron said he was unaware that the group had plans to enter the Capitol on Jan. 6. 

Around noon on the day of the riot, Aaron texted his FBI handler: "PB did not do it, nor inspire. The crowd did as herd mentality, not organized. Barriers down at Capitol Building. Crowd surged forward, almost to the building now." 

Aaron said he was following instructions from another Proud Boy on Jan. 6 when he helped block a gate to prevent police from closing it at the Capitol. However, he also admitted in court that his authorization to engage in illegal activity only pertained to the far-left network of Antifa and he did not have authorization or instructions to commit crimes in connection to the Proud Boys. 

He later said he should not have acted illegally on behalf of the Proud Boys.

Aaron also said he initially was unsure about whether he should have entered the Capitol at all. 

"I wasn’t going to at first, but then it was under the understanding that if I could prevent someone from destroying something of historic significance, that that would be a valid reason to go in," he testified.

Madeleine Hubbard is an international correspondent for Just the News. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram.