West Virginia brothers who brought bats to the US Capitol on January 6 sentenced

Two West Virginia brothers who introduced bats to the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, have been sentenced Thursday by a federal decide in Washington, DC.

Eric Cramer, 43, who pleaded responsible to disorderly conduct in a restricted space and tried to seize a baton from a police officer, was sentenced to eight months in jail. His brother, Nation Cramer, 38 – who entered the Capitol for 2 minutes on January 6 – was sentenced to 45 days of house detention after pleading responsible to unlawfully parading or picketing.

The brothers traveled collectively to DC to help members of Congress who have been contesting the certification of the 2020 Electoral School vote in a number of states, in line with their plea settlement.

Whereas on the Capitol, Eric Cramer – carrying a fuel masks all through the day and carrying with him a baseball bat – grabbed an officer’s baton and tried to drag it from his fingers earlier than one other officer got here ahead and Cramer backed away, the decide stated in the course of the listening to.

Eric Cramer posted a photograph on Fb of a police baton which, he wrote, he took “from the cop that hit me with it … so I suppose that’s my trophy,” in line with court docket paperwork.

Decide Randolph Moss informed Eric Cramer the Justice Division might have charged him with a felony for interfering with legislation enforcement officers and that the baseball bat – although there isn’t a proof it was ever used as a weapon – involved him enormously.

Somebody carrying a baseball bat, Moss stated, was doubtless “partaking in threatening habits until they’re strolling as much as the plate.”

“It’s simply increasingly disturbing the extra I see,” Moss stated of the Capitol assault. “It was one of the crucial regrettable days in our nation.”

Earlier than being sentenced, Eric Cramer apologized for his actions and stated he understood how the bat might be seen as threatening, including that he solely introduced it for cover after seeing how violent some protests had turn into over the earlier 12 months.

“I do know in my coronary heart although that I used to be not there for adverse something,” Eric Cramer informed the decide.

Based on investigators, the FBI obtained a tip from a classmate of Eric Cramer’s daughter, after she posted a photograph of Cramer’s Fb publish bragging concerning the baton. “MY DAD YALL,” his daughter allegedly wrote, including a rock-and-roll emoji together with one in every of an American flag.

Prosecutors didn’t point out the baton in the course of the sentencing Thursday and the plea settlement doesn’t say whether or not the baton within the picture was stolen from an officer.

Nation Cramer introduced a miniature baseball bat with him, which he informed the decide he saved in his backpack whereas on Capitol grounds.

Nation Cramer informed the decide, “Had I recognized how the day would have turned out on the sixth, I might have by no means of got here.” He stated he introduced the small bat and wore a helmet as a result of he anticipated to stroll again to their automobile in the dead of night that night time and “that may be somewhat scary” – citing previous violent protests.