Insider Cooperation and Secret Plea Deals: Revelations in Capitol Riot Sentencing

The guilty plea and prison sentence of Samuel Lazar, a Pennsylvania man involved in the U.S. Capitol riot, have been kept under seal due to his cooperation with federal authorities. Prosecutors have acknowledged that Lazar provided information as part of a plea agreement, including naming individuals responsible for criminal conduct who have not been charged. The release of this information could interfere with ongoing investigations. While hundreds of individuals involved in the Capitol riot have pleaded guilty, it is rare for records to be sealed. A coalition of news outlets has requested the unsealing of Lazar's records, and prosecutors and Lazar's attorney are seeking 30 days to redact records of his cooperation before public release. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson has yet to rule on the requests.