Kernersville Proud Boy Cops a Plea in Capitol Insurrection

 

Charles Donohoe of Kernersville was the North Carolina chapter president of the Proud Boys, the far right bullies who according to federal authorities conspired to keep Donald Trump in the White House. Following the 2020 election, Donohoe became leader of a Proud Boy inner circle called "the Ministry of Self Defense," which was planning the breach of the Capitol on January 6th, 2021, and he was a recruiter of other Proud Boys to join the effort.

As of yesterday, he has pleaded guilty to felony charges for his actions and will testify against other Proud Boys who have been charged but who pleaded innocent.

Donohoe has been held in custody since his arrest over a year ago in March of 2021.

Donohoe's movements on January 6th are well documented. These details come from the Department of Justice press release yesterday:

On Jan. 6, 2021, Donohoe was part of a group of 100 or more Proud Boys who marched away from a rally near the Washington Monument towards the Capitol. Shortly after 12 p.m., the group was assembled two blocks west of the Capitol, and Donohoe understood that other Proud Boys leaders were searching for an opportunity to storm the Capitol. At approximately 1 p.m., the group arrived at the Capitol and began breaching the barriers surrounding the Capitol grounds. While in the West Plaza of the Capitol, Donohoe threw two water bottles at a line of law enforcement officers who were attempting to prevent the mob’s advance in the West Plaza at the Capitol building. As events continued, Donohoe joined with a crowd, including other Proud Boys, to push forward to advance up the concrete stairs toward the Capitol. The crowd overwhelmed law enforcement officers on the stairs, continued toward the Capitol, and ultimately entered the Capitol building after Donohoe’s co-defendant, Dominic Pezzola, allegedly broke open a window of the building.

 

Kernersville 'Proud Boy' Called 'Pivotal' in Capitol Attack

 

Kevin Donohoe, who was arrested by the FBI on March 18 in Kernersville as a Proud Boy leader involved in the insurrection, is now being called a "pivotal" figure in a conspiracy to take over the US government. This is the reporting by Michael Hewlett:

In new court papers filed Friday, federal prosecutors say Charles Joseph Donohoe, a Kernersville resident and Proud Boys leader, played a pivotal role in leading his fellow Proud Boys in the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol riot.
 

Federal prosecutors say this is a photo of Charles Donohoe, the Kernersville Proud Boys leader, at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

He also assisted another Proud Boys member in carrying a riot shield stolen from a police officer on Jan. 6 and sought to destroy electronic messages afterward, prosecutors said.

Documents also allege that, celebrating afterward, Donohoe said he felt like a “complete warrior.”

 

Alleged NC Member of Proud Boys Arrested Yesterday

 

Charles Donohoe of Winston-Salem was arrested yesterday in Kernersville by the FBI for conspiracy to interfere with law enforcement officers at the Capitol on January 6th and for obstructing the certification of President Biden’s electoral victory. Donohoe's arrest was "part of a widening investigation that now includes 13 people identified in court papers as members of the Proud Boys. The right-wing group has been associated with protests organized by white supremacists and is designated as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center" (Richard Stradling).

Although my count was up to six (counting Donohoe) of North Carolinians arrested for participation in the insurrection, the Raleigh News and Observer sets the number "at least " at eight.

Twitter activist @m1523751 says that Donohoe goes by "Hunter Donohoe" on Facebook and was formerly with the USMC.