- Net worth
- Unknown
- Crimes
- january 6, obstruction, conspiracy
- Convicted of
- Conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding; assaulting, resisting or impeding officers (Jan. 6 Capitol breach)
- Original sentence
- 40 months' imprisonment (December 2023)
- Time served
- ~38 months before commutation
Background
Charles Donohoe was the leader of the North Carolina chapter of the Proud Boys and a member of the group’s “Ministry of Self Defense” (MOSD)—a leadership structure chairman Enrique Tarrio created in late December 2020 to coordinate planning. Donohoe pleaded guilty in April 2022 to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. He was sentenced in December 2023 to 40 months in prison and cooperated with prosecutors in the Proud Boys seditious conspiracy trial.
The Case
Donohoe joined the MOSD and participated in encrypted Telegram chats where, by at least January 4, 2021, leaders discussed storming the Capitol. In his signed statement of offense he admitted he was aware MOSD leadership was discussing the possibility of storming the Capitol, believed it would achieve the group’s goal of stopping the transfer of presidential power, and understood it would be illegal. On the evening of January 5, Joseph Biggs told the MOSD chat that there was a plan and he had spoken with Tarrio; Donohoe asked for the plan so he could pass it to the MOSD rank-and-file. Just after midnight on January 6, after Tarrio posted in the MOSD leader chat, Donohoe responded “Standby” and then reposted instructions on the “Boots on the Ground” and MOSD member chats directing Proud Boys to rendezvous at the Washington Monument at 10 a.m. Donohoe participated in the assault on the Capitol that day. His conduct was part of the coordinated attack that disrupted the certification of the Electoral College vote, injured law enforcement officers, and damaged public trust in the peaceful transfer of power. He was sentenced in December 2023 to 40 months in prison.
The Pardon
On January 20, 2025, President Trump granted Donohoe a commutation of his sentence to time served under a proclamation covering certain offenses relating to the events at or near the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Sources
- President Trump’s Proclamation Granting Pardons and Commutations for Jan. 6 Offenses (DOJ)
- Granting Pardons and Commutation of Sentences (White House, Jan 20, 2025)
- Leader of North Carolina Chapter of Proud Boys Pleads Guilty to Conspiracy and Assault Charges in Jan. 6 Capitol Breach (DOJ OPA)
- Proud Boys Member Who Helped Prosecution Sentenced in Jan. 6 Attack (New York Times, Dec 2023)
- Proud Boys Threat Assessment: From the Planning of January 6th to Future Scenarios (Just Security)