A US Air Power veteran who entered the Senate chambers in navy gear throughout the January 6, 2021, assault on the US Capitol was sentenced on Friday to 2 years in jail.
Larry Brock, 55, was discovered responsible on six expenses, together with the felony of obstruction of an official continuing, throughout a bench trial in November 2022.
“It’s actually fairly astounding coming from a former high-ranked navy officer. It’s astounding and atrocious,” US District Decide John Bates stated Friday as he defined his sentence.
In line with prosecutors, Brock walked across the Senate chamber for eight minutes throughout the Capitol assault, rifling via senators’ desks whereas sporting a helmet, tactical vest and carrying plastic flex-cuffs he discovered within the Rotunda that day.
Prosecutors additionally allege that Brock tried to unlock a door that was used minutes earlier by then-Vice President Mike Pence.
“Brock was part of a bigger mob that stopped the continuing from going down,” prosecutor April Ayers-Perez stated throughout sentencing. “They had been persevering with to cease the continuing simply by being there. Brock was on the Senate flooring the place they had been speculated to be debating Arizona at that very second.”
Throughout sentencing, the federal government additionally stated Brock used excessive rhetoric following the outcomes of the 2020 election. The choose learn a few of Brock’s social media posts throughout the listening to, together with one which stated: “I purchased myself physique armor and a helmet for a civil struggle that’s coming.”
“I believe it’s truthful to say his rhetoric is on the far finish of how excessive it’s,” Bates stated.
The choose went on to emphasise the seriousness of the Capitol assault earlier than imposing a sentence. “The conduct we’re speaking about, the occasions of January 6, had been extraordinarily severe. Extraordinarily severe,” he stated. “It was a mob, engaged in a riot, and all of that must be taken severe by the felony justice system.”
Brock didn’t tackle the court docket on the recommendation of his protection legal professional, Charles Burnham.
“He’d love to deal with the court docket, however since we’re planning on interesting, I’ve requested him to not tackle the court docket,” Burnham stated.
Supply: CNN