Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio arrested on assault charge outside U.S. Capitol

Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader granted clemency by President Donald Trump last month, was arrested outside the U.S. Capitol on Friday and charged with assaulting a female protester.

Tarrio was handcuffed, searched and put in a police van by U.S. Capitol Police after he appeared on Capitol Hill with several other members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers for a "press conference." The police said he was charged with assault.

Capitol Police said in a statement that the incident happened around 2:30 p.m. ET when "our officers witnessed a woman (a counter protester) put a cell phone close to a man’s face" while they were both walking. "Then the officers witnessed the man strike the woman’s phone and arm," the statement said.

Asked why he’d been detained, Tarrio told onlookers that “a lady stuck her phone in my face so I [inaudible] her phone.”

NBC News has reached out to the Washington U.S. attorney’s office — which is currently headed by Ed Martin, who helped organize the "Stop the Steal" rally that preceded the Capitol riot and later became an advocate for Jan. 6 defendants. NBC News also reached out to representatives of Tarrio.

Tarrio had been serving a 22-year sentence in federal prison on charges including seditious conspiracy for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack until last month, when Trump commuted his sentence.

Proud Boys leader Joe Biggs had announced plans for the press conference on Thursday while appearing on former Trump White House adviser Steve Bannon's podcast.

"Myself, Enrique Tarrio, Stewart Rhodes and the Oath Keepers and Zachary [Rehl] right here, we’re gonna be going to the Capitol and talking about our future plans, and what it looks like we’re gonna be doing.”

The four men were convicted of seditious conspiracy for the leading roles they played in the Jan. 6 riot, and the group received some of the longest prison sentences connected to the insurrection. Trump commuted all of their sentences on his first day in office, while issuing roughly 1,500 pardons for supporters who were convicted on criminal charges related to the attack.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com