Former Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and four others face charges of seditious conspiracy over Capitol riot.

The defence team has completed its testimony in the high-profile trial of Enrique Tarrio, former national leader of the Proud Boys, and four other members of the group accused of conspiring to disrupt the transfer of power after the 2020 U.S. presidential election. The case centres on allegations that the defendants plotted to prevent Joe Biden from assuming the presidency.

Federal prosecutors are expected to call rebuttal witnesses before closing arguments commence. Jurors will then deliberate on one of the most significant cases stemming from the Justice Department’s investigation into the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The trial, which began over three months ago, resumes Friday.

Dominic Pezzola, a former Proud Boys member and the last defence witness, testified he acted independently during the events of January 6. A Marine Corps veteran, Pezzola admitted to breaking a Capitol window with a riot shield taken from police but denied any coordinated plot. He described the riot as “the most spontaneous thing I’ve ever witnessed in my life.”

During cross-examination, prosecutors played a video of Pezzola smoking a cigar inside the Capitol, calling it a “victory smoke.” Pezzola expressed regret, labelling his actions “idiotic” and claiming he was unaware of any broader Proud Boys strategy to attack the Capitol.

The defendants, including Tarrio and group members Ethan Nordean, Joseph Biggs, and Zachary Rehl, face charges of seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors allege the group acted as a violent force to keep Donald Trump in office. The jury has heard testimony from over three dozen witnesses since the trial began in January, with the defence resting its case on Thursday.

The Pennsylvania Democrat’s comeback follows extended treatment, as Senate Democrats face challenges with Senator Feinstein’s absence.

Senator John Fetterman of Pennsylvania returned to the US Senate on Monday after being absent for six weeks due to treatment for depression. He made his entrance wearing his signature attire—a black hoodie, gym shorts, and sneakers—and placed his hand over his heart as he walked into the chamber ahead of the day’s votes.

Fetterman, 54, posted a photo on social media of his return, expressing his gratitude: “It’s good to be back,” he wrote in a tweet.

Fetterman, who suffered a stroke last year just before the Democratic primary in May, went on to win the Senate race against Republican Mehmet Oz. In February, after experiencing lightheadedness, Fetterman was briefly hospitalised at George Washington University Hospital before checking in for inpatient treatment at Walter Reed Medical Centre for depression. His return comes at a time when the Democratic caucus is dealing with the absence of Senator Dianne Feinstein, who is also recovering from an extended leave after contracting shingles.

Feinstein, 89, has requested to temporarily step down from the Senate Judiciary Committee to recover, just as the Senate Democrats work to confirm judicial nominees from President Joe Biden. With only 51 Senate seats, the Democrats need full participation to confirm the President’s nominees without requiring Vice President Kamala Harris to break a tie.

Meanwhile, Republicans have indicated their opposition to aiding the confirmation process in the absence of Feinstein, with some lawmakers vocal about opposing Biden’s judicial picks. Senator Tom Cotton from Arkansas tweeted, “Republicans should not assist Democrats in confirming Joe Biden’s most radical nominees to the courts,” and Senator Marsha Blackburn from Tennessee added, “I will not go along with Chuck Schumer’s plan to replace Senator Feinstein on the Judiciary Committee and pack the court with activist judges.”

Authorities shut down the covert station in Chinatown and charge the suspects with espionage-related offences, uncovering a broader campaign of intimidation.

The FBI has arrested two individuals in connection with running an illicit Chinese police station in New York City. The arrests, which took place on Monday, are part of an investigation into the secretive operation allegedly aimed at extending Chinese governmental influence within the United States.

The suspects are expected to face charges in federal court, accused of conspiring to act as agents for the Chinese government. This “undeclared police station,” located in the Chinatown area of Manhattan, was closed last year following a search warrant executed by authorities. The operation, officials stated, was conducted without any official declaration and was intended to further Chinese state interests in the US.

At a press conference revealing the arrests, US Attorney Breon Peace, Brooklyn’s top federal prosecutor, emphasised, “New York City is home to New York’s finest: the NYPD. We don’t need or want a secret police station in our great city.”

Along with the arrests, the Justice Department announced charges against 34 members of China’s national police for allegedly targeting Chinese nationals in the US who were critical of the Chinese government. These individuals, all currently residing in China, are believed to be part of the Chinese government’s “912 Special Project Working Group,” designed to sway international perceptions in favour of the People’s Republic of China (PRC).

According to prosecutors, the operatives used social media platforms to launch attacks against pro-democracy figures globally, while promoting the PRC’s agenda. They ran accounts that mimicked those of American citizens, publishing content including videos and articles that smeared Chinese pro-democracy activists. Some of the material contained explicit threats, even death threats, directed at individuals who had spoken out against the Chinese government or planned to attend pro-democracy protests in the US.

Chinese authorities have maintained that these “service centres,” which the FBI claims were part of a global network of similar operations, were merely run by volunteers and not involved in policing activities.

The Home Secretary faces growing criticism over remarks deemed racially insensitive, with calls for action from former colleagues.

Suella Braverman, the Home Secretary, is facing increased scrutiny and condemnation over her comments, which have been described as racially charged. Several former senior Conservative ministers have spoken out against her remarks, calling them “racist rhetoric” and urging Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to take action.

One former minister from Boris Johnson’s government, who wished to remain anonymous, labelled Braverman a “real racist bigot” and expressed concern that her comments were damaging the reputation of both the country and the Conservative Party. The minister added that the party’s standing on issues of discrimination had reached a “new low”.

Braverman’s comments on April 2, in which she highlighted British Pakistani men as a primary concern in relation to grooming gangs, attracted significant backlash. She referred to specific cases in towns such as Rotherham and Rochdale and suggested that certain ethnic groups, particularly British Pakistani men, held cultural values incompatible with British norms, citing the treatment of women as one example.

In October, Braverman was also criticised for using the term “invasion” to describe the influx of migrants crossing the Channel. These remarks, combined with a recent incident involving offensive dolls in an Essex pub, have led to further controversy. On April 4, police seized several golly dolls from the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, as part of an investigation into a hate crime allegation. A Home Office source reportedly dismissed the police involvement, stating it was a “nonsense” issue that should not distract from criminal matters.

Tory peer Sayeeda Warsi condemned Braverman’s rhetoric in a piece for the Guardian, urging Prime Minister Sunak to take responsibility. Warsi expressed disappointment, especially given the diversity of the current cabinet. She emphasised that, as the first Prime Minister of an ethnic minority background, Sunak should not allow his government to be remembered for tolerating such language. While Warsi does not believe Sunak shares Braverman’s extreme views, she pointed out that the responsibility ultimately rests with him as party leader.

Tory MP Tobias Ellwood, chair of the Defence Select Committee, also distanced himself from Braverman’s comments, saying they were not in line with the party’s current approach. He expressed concern that such remarks might alienate a wider public, especially as the Prime Minister seeks to steer the party towards a more cooperative and pragmatic stance.

In response, a Home Office spokesperson defended Braverman’s remarks, asserting that the Home Secretary was simply addressing the issue of grooming gangs and the need for justice for victims. The spokesperson acknowledged that while the majority of British-Pakistanis are law-abiding citizens, independent reports had confirmed that in towns like Rochdale and Rotherham, cultural sensitivities had allowed the abuse of young girls to continue unchecked for years. The government has introduced measures such as a new police task force to prevent such abuses in the future and ensure that offenders are held accountable.