In a stunning development, Shane Lamond, the former head of the Metropolitan Police Department’s intelligence unit in Washington DC, has been found guilty of obstruction of justice and lying to investigators. The charges stem from allegations that Lamond tipped off Enrique Tarrio, the imprisoned ex-leader of the far-right Proud Boys organization, about an outstanding warrant for his arrest just days before the infamous January 6th attack on the US Capitol.
A Tangled Web of Connections
The verdict, delivered after a bench trial featuring testimony from Tarrio himself, paints a disturbing picture of the close ties between Lamond and the extremist figure. Prosecutors presented evidence of over 500 communications between the two men, including 101 messages on the encrypted Telegram app set to automatically disappear.
While Lamond’s defense argued these contacts were part of his job, the prosecution unveiled messages where Lamond expressed support for the Proud Boys and a desire to protect their reputation. The indictment alleged Lamond even attempted to convince other police units that the group was not racist, citing their diverse membership.
The Capitol Attack Fallout
Tarrio, who is currently serving a 22-year sentence for seditious conspiracy related to the Capitol riot, claimed in his testimony that he traveled to DC before January 6th to “get this over with” and exploit his anticipated arrest as a publicity stunt. The Proud Boys played a central role in the attack, which sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election and keep Donald Trump in power.
“I told them you are made up a lot of Latinos and blacks so not a racist thing. If anything I said it’s political…”
– Alleged message from Lamond to Tarrio
In the aftermath, Lamond and Tarrio allegedly continued their communications, with Tarrio suggesting he could have prevented the entire Capitol attack. This revelation adds another layer of intrigue to the ongoing investigations into law enforcement’s preparedness and response on January 6th.
FBI Informants and Presidential Pardons
The conviction comes on the heels of a Justice Department watchdog report revealing the presence of over two dozen FBI informants in DC during the Capitol attack, reigniting accusations of a “deep state” conspiracy among Trump allies. However, it remains unclear if Lamond or Tarrio were among these informants.
As the number of individuals charged in connection with January 6th surpasses 1,000, with hundreds already convicted, the specter of presidential pardons looms large. Trump has vowed to grant clemency to his supporters, with some exceptions for those deemed “too radical.” The Lamond verdict adds yet another wrinkle to an already complex and politically charged situation.
The Road Ahead
As the fallout from January 6th continues to reverberate through the halls of power, the conviction of Shane Lamond serves as a stark reminder of the deep divisions and unseen machinations that threaten the very foundations of American democracy. With Trump poised to retake the White House, and a wave of pardons on the horizon, the true extent of the corruption and complicity surrounding the Capitol attack may never be fully known.
One thing, however, is certain: the scars of that fateful day will linger long after the last sentence is handed down, the final appeal exhausted, and the history books closed. In a nation increasingly polarized and adrift, the conviction of a once-trusted law enforcement leader for aiding an extremist group strikes at the core of the American identity, leaving us to wonder – who can we trust, and where do we go from here?
