The Proud Boys were involved in the deadly insurrection at the Capitol January 6.
The records uncovered by Reuters are startling because they show that a leader of a far-right group now under intense scrutiny by law enforcement was previously an active collaborator with criminal investigators.
Though Tarrio did not take part in the Capitol insurrection, at least five Proud Boys members have been charged in the riot.
The transcript from 2014 shines a new light on Tarrio’s past connections to law enforcement.
In interviews with Reuters, however, he said that before rallies in various cities, he would let police departments know of the Proud Boys’ plans.
The Proud Boys, founded in 2016, began as a group protesting political correctness and perceived constraints on masculinity.
In November and December, Tarrio led the Proud Boys through the streets of D.C. after Trump’s loss. »