"Appeals Court Overturns Improper Sentence Enhancements for Jan. 6 Rioters"
A federal appeals court ruled that judges may have improperly applied federal sentencing guidelines to over 100 individuals convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, US Capitol riot, rejecting the Justice Department's argument for lengthier prison sentences. The court found that the phrase "administration of justice" does not encompass Congress's role in the electoral certification process, and enhancements typically reserved for disrupting judicial proceedings were misapplied to rioters. The ruling could lead to lighter sentences for imprisoned rioters and may impact future cases related to the Capitol riot.
