HOME / NEWS / HUMAN INTEREST

Proud Boys' Seattle chapter 'Sergeant-at-Arms' Ethan Nordean goes from 'Hail Emperor Trump' to 'F**k Trump'

Nordean posted the expletive-laded message on Telegram just a week prior to his arrest in February and has been in jail since then

The self-described 'sergeant-at-arms' of the Seattle chapter of Proud Boys, Ethan Nordean, recently denounced Donald Trump, slamming him for abandoning supporters after the Capitol riots. That's a far cry from his view of the former President before January 6, when the group often sent messages like 'hail Emperor Trump'.

The message was made a part of the many pieces of evidence filed by prosecutors, in a bid to prove that insurrectionists 'conspired' to attack the Capitol on January 6. Nordean posted the expletive-laded message on Telegram just a week prior to his arrest in February. He's been in jail since then, awaiting trial along with the hundreds of others rounded up by the FBI and Department of Justice (DoJ).

RELATED ARTICLES

Who is Gary Edwards? Pennsylvania man, 68, arrested as wife brags about his role in Capitol riots on Facebook

Ted Cruz slammed for congratulating new Capitol Police graduates, Internet ‘can't believe the nerve’ he has

In the aftermath of the insurrection, hundreds have slammed Trump for not aiding those charged, or issuing pardons, which he could have done. 

'F**k him more than Biden' says Nordean

In a Telegram message on January 20, Nordean tore into the former president and said, "Alright I’m gonna say it. F**k TRUMP." He added, "F**k him more than Biden. I’ve followed this guy for 4 years and given everything and lost it all. Yes, he woke us up, but he led us to believe some great justice was upon us... and it never happened. Now I’ve got some of my good friends and myself facing jail time cuz we followed this guy's lead and never questioned it." 

As the FBI began rounding up all those involved, Nordean realized that Trump would not be issuing pardons for him or others. "We are now and always have been on our own," he said. "So glad he was able to pardon a bunch of degenerates as his last move and shit on us on the way out. F**k you Trump you left us on (t)he battlefield bloody and alone".

Those messages are just a selection of the more than 1 million messages extracted from Nordean's phone. In the 14-page filing against the Proud Boys leader, prosecutors have said that "the defendant appeared to acknowledge his responsibility for exposing others to potential criminal consequences". 

While hundreds of insurrectionists have been arrested and charged, Trump has retreated to Mar-a-Lago. Despite setting up a new blog on his website, he's been largely concerned with pushing out those disloyal to him, like Liz Cheney. Trump hasn't acknowledged the insurrection or any of those involved, even though his own party has gone out of its way to defend them.

'People get exactly what they deserve'

Nordean's message quickly found its way to social media, with many celebrating his arrest. One person tweeted, "Sometimes people get exactly what they deserve. In Nordean’s case, I hope it is a long jail sentence with behavioral therapy." Another said, "Aww, poor right-wing extremist factions fracturing is so tragic. Too bad there are plenty more lemmings willing to take their places."

One person said, "Ethan Nordean represents a substantial part of the GOP. The dude would vote for Trump again from his jail cell. A hint of a pardon and Ethan would fall for the con just as before. The faithful, low intelligence followers are the first to fall and the last to see it coming."

"Ethan Nordean, Trump led you to the insurrection waters, but hate made you drink. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time!" another said. One pointed out, "Ethan Nordean, a Proud Boys Leader, Discovers Trump Has No Loyalty."

"I have just one word for Ethan Nordean. Sucker!" declared one person. Another tweeted, "Ethan Nordean this is what happens when you worship a man that has never done anything for anyone. You should have invested that love in your family. When you know better you do better."

Nordean's bail application was revoked in April after a Judge agreed with federal prosecutors' argument that he was a central figure in the insurrection. The filing now shows just how critical he was, having egged on others with messages like "Fight we will" and "Let them remember the day they decided to make war with us". In fact, he's appeared to be so disillusioned with Trump, that Nordean's lawyer even claimed he was "egged on by Donald Trump". 

While he has pleaded not guilty, a mountain of evidence that is slowly coming to light shows that Nordean could be heading for a long spell in prison, up to 20 years if convicted.