[WASHINGTON D.C.] – (MTN) Federal Court District Judge Timothy J. Kelly moved to revoke bail for Proud Boy leaders Ethan Nordean and Joseph Biggs. The two stand accused of being central leaders in the January 6 Capitol insurrection that left five dead, and forced lawmakers to suspend the 2020 election certification process.

In a lengthy decision, Judge Kelly wrote, “The defendants stand charged with seeking to steal one of the crown jewels of our country, in a sense, by interfering with the peaceful transfer of power,” Judge Timothy Kelly said as he explained his decision. “It’s no exaggeration to say the rule of law and … in the end, the existence of our constitutional republic is threatened by it.”

Nordean has been released and returned to custody multiple times since his first arraignment on initial charges. A Washington District Court judge decided to release him in February, but prosecutors filed an emergency stay which was upheld. Then Judge Beryl Howell ordered Nordean released stating that the case for conspiracy was weak. Nordean was released under strict conditions.

In an indictment issued in March, Nordean, Biggs, Aach Rehl, and Charles Donohoe were charged with a litany of charges with more evidence to support the prosecutor’s claims.

Nordean was witnessed leading the Proud Boys in a march down Constitution Avenue at the same time then President Donald Trump was speaking. Nordean and the group of Proud Boys did not wear their signature black and yellow shirts. They are accused of charging the weakly defended checkpoints on the outer barricades of the Capitol.

Nordean took on a leadership role on January 6 due to the arrest of Enrique Tarrio on January 4. Tarrio is accused of a hate crime and property destruction for the burning of Black Lives Matter banners at two historic churches in Washington D.C. In an interview with CNN, Tarrio revealed he has testified before a federal grand jury about the January 6 insurrection.