From the BBC:
“January 6: Ex-police officer
gets record 10-year sentence over Capitol riots”
(According to a Justice
Department court filing, Thomas Webster appears to assault a federal officer
with a deadly weapon outside the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.)
An ex-New York City police
officer who assaulted law enforcement officials during the 6 January riots has
been sentenced to 10 years in prison. Thomas Webster, 56, was convicted in May
on multiple charges, including assaulting police and violent and disorderly
conduct. More than 850 people have been charged over their involvement in the
attack. But the sentence handed down on Thursday is the longest imposed on
anyone over their role in the riots. A federal jury in New York previously
rejected Webster's argument that he had been acting in self-defence when he
swung a metal flagpole at an officer and tackled another to the ground, holding
him in a chokehold. In pre-sentencing documents, the Marine Corps veteran
disavowed former President Donald Trump's claims that the 2020 election was
stolen and included a letter of reference from a friend who blamed the
Republican politician's "despicable lies" for inducing Webster's
conduct. Jurors accepted prosecutors' argument that Webster had
"spearheaded" an attack on police lines and that he was responsible
for "disgracing a democracy that he once fought honourably to protect and
serve". "Notwithstanding his background and training, Webster did not
try to de-escalate the situation or leave the premises," the justice
department said in court filings. "Webster spent eight minutes elbowing
his way through the densely packed crowd so that he could position himself at
the front of the mob." The court agreed to suspend the final 36 months of
Webster's term in defence to his 25 years service as a police officer and
soldier. The sentencing comes as US law enforcement officials also detained
Kellye SoRelle, a lawyer for the far-right Oath Keepers group. Ms SoRelle was
indicted on four charges in connection with the 6 January attacks, including
obstruction of justice. Several members of the group have pleaded guilty to
criminal charges arising from the attack on the Capitol, where a number of Oath
Keepers were seen entering the building in military style body armour. The
43-year-old previously volunteered with Lawyers for Trump during efforts to
challenge the 2020 election results.
^ Webster is a disgrace to Veterans.
He is a disgrace to Police Officers. He is a disgrace to Americans. ^
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