All articles tagged with #jan6riot
Originally Published 1 year ago — by The Washington Post
Defendants in the January 6 Capitol attack are celebrating Donald Trump's election victory, with their lawyers seeking to delay trials or sentences in hopes of receiving presidential pardons or more lenient treatment from a potentially restructured Justice Department.
Originally Published 1 year ago — by ABC News
A D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that some Jan. 6 rioters received improper sentence enhancements for obstructing the congressional certification, impacting scores of prison terms, including that of convicted rioter Larry Brock. While upholding Brock's conviction, the panel ordered the removal of the enhancement, potentially affecting dozens of sentences. The ruling centers on whether the "administration of justice" enhancement should apply to the disrupted congressional proceedings, with the panel agreeing with Brock's argument that it does not extend to the unique congressional function of certifying electoral college votes. The Justice Department's upcoming Supreme Court case on the felony obstruction charge used against rioters is also highlighted.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Ray Epps, a Jan. 6 defendant, was sentenced to probation after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor count for his involvement in the Capitol riot. Epps, who faced threats due to false claims that he was a government operative, was described as unfairly scapegoated by prosecutors and the judge. Despite the government seeking a prison sentence, Epps was sentenced to a year of probation and 100 hours of community service. He expressed remorse for his actions and plans to advocate against election denialism, while also suing Fox News for spreading conspiracy theories about him.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by PBS NewsHour
Three years after the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, authorities continue to prosecute those involved, with over 1,230 charged and more than 730 guilty pleas. The largest criminal investigation in U.S. history is still active, with efforts to identify over 80 individuals involved in violence and the person responsible for placing pipe bombs near political party offices. The Supreme Court is set to hear a case that could affect many defendants, and some remain at large, including a brother-sister duo from Florida. The mystery of the pipe bomber remains unsolved, with a $500,000 reward for information leading to an arrest.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
Christopher Worrell, a member of the Proud Boys, was sentenced to a 10-year prison term for his role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. He was convicted of multiple felonies, including assaulting police officers with pepper spray. Worrell had previously fled home detention and attempted to delay his sentencing by overdosing on medication. During his trial, he claimed to have been helping police, but this was dismissed by the judge as "preposterous." Despite his health issues and apology, the court imposed a significant sentence to underscore that his actions were not justified.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC News
Daniel Rodriguez, a Jan. 6 rioter, was sentenced to more than 12 years in prison for tasing a police officer in the neck during the Capitol attack. He pleaded guilty to multiple felony counts and admitted to driving a stun gun into the neck of then-Metropolitan Police Department officer Michael Fanone. Fanone testified before the congressional committee about the violent clash, describing the rioters as terrorists. Rodriguez's attorneys said he went to the rally to support President Trump and followed him "blindly."
Originally Published 2 years ago — by POLITICO
The Justice Department has rejected Jacob Chansley's, also known as the QAnon Shaman, bid to overturn his conviction for obstructing Congress' proceedings on Jan. 6, 2021, which landed him in prison for more than two years. Chansley's legal effort, fueled by Capitol surveillance footage provided to Fox News' Tucker Carlson by Speaker Kevin McCarthy, distorts the "overwhelming" evidence of his criminality, argued Assistant U.S. Attorney Kimberly Paschall in a blistering 31-page filing.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by Rolling Stone
Peter Schwartz, a man who attacked police officers with pepper spray and a chair during the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, has been sentenced to over 14 years in prison, the longest sentence yet for anyone convicted in relation to the riot. Schwartz was armed with a wooden tire knocker when he stormed the Capitol with his then-wife. Prosecutors had asked for a 24-year sentence, but the judge chose a lesser sentence due to Schwartz's lack of remorse and long criminal history. Nearly 450 people have been charged with federal crimes in connection to the Jan. 6 riots, with over half handed terms of imprisonment.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
Peter Schwartz, a man who attacked police officers with their own chemical spray during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, has been sentenced to over 14 years in prison, the longest sentence yet for a Jan. 6 rioter. Schwartz was convicted of four felony counts of assault on law enforcement, obstructing the vote count, and related charges. The judge cited Schwartz's long criminal history and gleeful violence during the riot as reasons for the stiff sentence. Schwartz's wife, who was with him during the riot, pleaded guilty to assaulting officers with pepper spray and was sentenced to two years in prison.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by The Washington Post
Former FBI supervisory agent Jared L. Wise has been arrested in Oregon for allegedly entering the Capitol during the Jan. 6 riot and confronting police officers. Wise, who worked for the FBI from 2004 to 2017, was charged with four misdemeanors, including entering a restricted building and impeding government business. At least 20 former or current members of law enforcement have been arrested in connection with the riot.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
A member of the Proud Boys on trial for seditious conspiracy, Dominic Pezzola, used his testimony to advance a conspiracy theory about fellow Jan. 6 participant Ray Epps, claiming he was a "suspected government operative." Far-right conspirators have alleged that Epps was working with the federal government and sought to provoke violence during the 2021 attack on the Capitol. Pezzola also claimed there was no plan to storm the Capitol ahead of Jan. 6 and depicted himself as an average Joe who had just stumbled into situations and made some poor decisions.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by ABC News
Patrick McCaughey, a Jan. 6 rioter, was sentenced to 7 years and 6 months in prison for assaulting and pinning a Capitol Police officer in a doorway during the insurrection. The judge described the assault as one of the "most dangerous and violent clashes with police" and among "the most egregious crimes committed on that day." McCaughey apologized to Capitol Police and his family before the judge read and explained his sentence, which was ultimately lighter than the government's recommendation of 15-plus years.
Originally Published 2 years ago — by NBC News
Edward Badalian, a Jan. 6 defendant who was charged with conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and aiding and abetting, and tampering with documents or proceedings, has been found guilty on three counts. Badalian was charged alongside Daniel Rodriguez, who admitted to electroshocking a D.C. police officer during the Capitol attack. Badalian drove a rented van across the country and told members of the group that he had packed a respirator, masks, snow goggles, kneepads, and baseball helmets for the group. Badalian's focus was not on antifa, but on arresting politicians, including President-elect Joe Biden and then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi.