A 30-year-old bodybuilder from Washington state who was once named “Proud Boy of the Week” has been charged for his alleged role in the US Capitol riots, according to reports.
Ethan Nordean was described in a federal affidavit as the self-described “Sergeant of Arms” of the Seattle Chapter of the Proud Boys, a “pro-Western fraternal organization for men who refuse to apologize for creating the modern world; aka Western Chauvinists.”
Nordean, known in right-wing circles as Rufio Panman, was allegedly observed marching at the front of the group shortly before the Jan. 6 insurrection began, according to the document.
He was charged in federal court in DC with obstructing or impeding an official proceeding, aiding and abetting, knowingly entering or remaining in restricted building or grounds, violent entry and disorderly conduct.
It is alleged “that Nordean was among those who entered the U.S. Capitol building after rioters, including certain persons associated with the Proud Boys, forced entry into the Capitol by means of destruction of Federal property,” according to the document.
“It is also alleged that Nordean was near the front of the crowd of rioters, who collectively approached, confronted, and vastly outnumbered Capitol Police,” it added.
Before the riots, he had posted on social media some indications of a plan to organize a group that intended to engage in conflict, according to the feds.
In late December, Nordean posted a message asking for donations of “protective gear” and “communications equipment.”
On Jan. 4, he posted a video that he captioned, “Let them remember the day they decided to make war with us,” according to the document.
Nordean also posted a video in which he discussed what he described as “blatant, rampant voter fraud” in the presidential election, adding that the Proud Boys were going to “bring back that original spirit of 1776 of what really established the character of what America is.
Nordean was allegedly observed marching at the front of the group at the Capitol shortly before the Jan. 6 insurrection began. DOJ“And it’s not complacency, it’s not low standards. It’s ‘this is how it’s going to be, and I don’t give a god damn,’” he said.
“It is apparent now more than ever, that if you are a patriot, you will be targeted and they will come after you, funny thing is that they don’t realize is, is we are coming for them. You’ve chosen your side, black and yellow teamed with red, white and blue against everyone else,” he said the day before the riots.
The married father of one sold protein powder through a since-dissolved business called Bangarang Elite Supplements around the time he began showing up at right-wing rallies in mid-2017, the Seattle Times reported, citing extremist watchdog groups.
Nordean, seen here during the Capitol insurrection, started attending right-wing rallies in 2017. DOJIn 2018, he was named “Proud Boy of the Week” and landed a guest spot on conspiracy theorist Alex Jones’ “InfoWars” broadcast, according to the paper.
Late last year, he and his wife launched the retail company Rebel Life, the newspaper reported.
Shopify recently stopped hosting Nordean’s store, after receiving complaints from people monitoring him and other Proud Boys on Parler, the social media platform widely used by right-wing groups.
Ethan Nordean faces more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges. DOJHis father, Michael Nordean, said in a statement released by a family spokesperson: “We absolutely do not support the actions of Ethan or the extremist group he belongs to.”
The Seattle Times reported that the family said in another statement Wednesday: “We have tried for a long while to get our son off the path which led to his arrest today — to no avail.”
Ethan Nordean faces more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all charges. DOJThey added: “Ethan will be held accountable for his actions.”
He faces more than 30 years in prison if convicted on all counts.







