SARASOTA – A local Proud Boy is sworn in as an executive committee member of the Sarasota Republican Party.
Local resident and Proud Boy James Hoel is now part of Sarasota Republican leadership. Hoel has been active in local education issues and was photographed with two of the elected conservative school board members, the Herald-Tribune reports.
The Proud Boys are a far-right group that helped organize the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol. Five have been charged with seditious conspiracy. Some took plea deals after assaulting law enforcement.
The Proud Boys are also taking credit for helping to get conservative board member Bridget Ziegler elected. Ziegler called them “menaces” and “total yahoos.” But Hoel disputed that, writing on Facebook that many local Proud Boys helped get her, plus conservatives Enos and Marinelli elected.
