Capitol rioter's secret cooperation exposes fellow rioters

Samuel Lazar, a Pennsylvania man charged in connection with the U.S. Capitol riot, had his guilty plea and prison sentence sealed due to his cooperation with federal authorities. Prosecutors argue that publicly releasing information about Lazar's cooperation could interfere with ongoing investigations. More than 1,100 people have been charged in relation to the January 6th events, but it is rare for records to be sealed, even in cases involving cooperation. Lazar, who was released from custody after serving a 30-month sentence, had his cooperation discussed at a closed sentencing hearing in March 2023. A coalition of news outlets has requested the unsealing of records, while the court is considering redacting them before public release.