Retired NASCAR Driver Among Latest Arrested for Jan. 6 Capitol Breach

Left: Tighe Scott in a file image. Right: Tighe Scott and his son in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. Department of Justice via The Epoch Times

Retired racecar driver Tighe Scott and a leader in the Proud Boys group are among the latest arrests in the investigation into the Jan. 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol.

Mr. Scott, 75, and three other men were arrested in Pennsylvania on June 5 on charges including obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder and entering or remaining in restricted buildings or grounds, according to the U.S. Department of Justice.

The quartet attended the rally held by then-President Donald Trump in Washington on Jan. 6 before walking over to the Capitol, according to the government.

An FBI filing said that Mr. Scott, wearing a “Trump 2020” hat, was outside the Capitol when he grabbed shields law enforcement officers were carrying. He fell backward after one of the officers “was able to dislodge” him.

Mr. Scott was with his son or son-in-law Jarrett Scott, 48, who was accused of pushing against the officers before also falling.

Body camera footage showed the younger Mr. Scott yelling at officers, using expletives to describe them, according to the filing. He also said, “[Expletive] you, you knocked down my father.”

Scott Slater Jr., 26, was charged after allegedly hurling a flag pole at officers and Scott Slater Sr., 56, was charged after allegedly trying to force his way past officers, who had commanded the crowd to move back from the area.

The defendants were identified by FBI agents through tipsters, including one who said they knew the elder Mr. Scott was a retired NASCAR driver who lived in Pennsylvania near his grandchildren.

Mr. Tighe Scott competed in professional racing years ago, running his last NASCAR race in 1982, according to Racing Reference.

Mr. Slater Sr. admitted to agents that he was outside the Capitol on Jan. 6 but said he did not witness any violence and that neither he nor his son committed any crimes, according to the filing. Mr. Slater Jr. told agents over the phone that he was at the building and some “shoving” occurred when he and his father were on the steps. When an agent asked what he meant, the defendant said that he and his father pushed and were pushed by officers, according to the filing.

It was not clear whether any of the defendants had hired lawyers. The docket for the case was still sealed as of Wednesday.

Scott Slater Jr., left, and Scott Slater Sr. in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. Department of Justice via The Epoch Times

Proud Boys Leader Arrested

A leader in the Proud Boys group was also taken into custody this week.

Jay Thaxton, 50, was arrested in North Carolina on charges of obstruction of law enforcement during a civil disorder, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building or grounds, and obstructing or impeding passage in a Capitol building or grounds.

Mr. Thaxton was arrested on the evening of Jan. 6 for violating Washington’s curfew. Law enforcement agents later received tips identifying Mr. Thaxton as one of the individuals who went to the Capitol on Jan. 6.

Agents matched images of that individual with pictures of Mr. Thaxton as he was arrested, and confirmed the identity, according to court documents.

Mr. Thaxton also told a U.S. House of Representatives committee during a deposition in 2022 that his garb on Jan. 6 matched the appearance of the individual.

Photographs and video showed the individual pulling down a section of fencing at the Capitol and helping wrest other barriers from officers, according to court filings.

The available evidence indicates that Mr. Thaxton violated federal law, including engaging in obstruction, an FBI agent said.

Mr. Thaxton has acknowledged being part of the Proud Boys, which described itself as a “pro-western fraternity,” and serving as the vice president of the North Carolina chapter.

The national leader of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio, was convicted of seditious conspiracy and other charges despite not going to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and sentenced in 2023 to 22 years in prison.

Numerous other leaders and members of the group have been convicted in relation to the Capitol breach.

A lawyer representing Mr. Thaxton declined to comment.

Over 1,400 individuals have been charged over the breach, according to the Department of Justice. Hundreds have pleaded guilty, while some 200 have been convicted in trials. Some 880 defendants have been sentenced, including 541 sentenced to time in prison.

“We will continue to ... bring to justice all of those criminally responsible for the January 6th attack on our democracy,” Attorney General Merrick Garland told lawmakers during a June 4 hearing.

Under questioning from Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.), he agreed that people had the right to be in Washington if they didn’t do anything bad. Mr. Garland also defended the spate of obstruction of an official proceeding charges brought by his office, as the U.S. Supreme Court considers throwing out the charges.

If the nation’s top court rules against the government, “We will follow the law that the Supreme Court tells us,” Mr. Garland added. “We don’t know what the Supreme Court will say but we will follow what the Supreme Court says.”