FBI Witness: Pelosi, Pence Were Proud Boy Targets

JANUARY 15--Members of the Proud Boys would have killed Nancy Pelosi and Mike Pence “if given the chance” during last week’s storming of the Capitol, according to an FBI witness quoted in a criminal complaint filed against an accused rioter.

Federal prosecutors today unsealed a three-count complaint against Dominic Pezzola, a 43-year-old Proud Boy from Rochester, New York. Pezzola, an ex-Marine known as “Spazzo,” surrendered this morning to federal agents.

In photos and videos taken during the January 6 insurrection, Pezzola is seen using a stolen police shield to break a Capitol window, allowing other rioters to climb inside. After breaching the building, Pezzola smoked a victory cigar inside the Capitol and exclaimed how “fucking awesome” it was that “we could take this motherfucker over.”

A witness told the FBI that they had spoken with Pezzola and other Proud Boys “about things they had done during the day.” During these conversations, the witness reported, the rioters “said that anyone they got their hands on they would have killed, including Nancy Pelosi.” The witness added that Pezzola and other Proud Boys “said that they would have killed [Vice President] Mike Pence if given the chance.”

A court filing notes that Pezzola’s Telegram account includes a bio describing him as a “Marine vet / boxer / patriot/ Proud Boy 2nd°.”

Pezzola, who works as a flooring contractor, made an initial appearance today in U.S. District Court in Rochester, where a magistrate ordered him to remain in custody in advance of a detention hearing. During today’s hearing, a prosecutor branded Pezzola a danger to the community and a flight risk.

Pezzola has been charged with destruction of government property, obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering a restricted government building. If convicted of the federal counts--which will likely be supplemented in the coming days--Pezzola faces a maximum of more than 20 years in prison. (9 pages)