A rioter in the United States Capitol is sentenced to 41 months in jail

Key sentence:

• On Wednesday, a former mixed martial artist caught on camera hitting a police officer during the deadly Jan. 
• When sentencing New Jersey gym owner Scott Fairlamb, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth underlined the seriousness of his actions. 

On Wednesday, a former mixed martial artist caught on camera hitting a police officer during the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the US Capitol was sentenced to 41 months in jail, the harshest punishment yet in the almost 700 criminal prosecutions coming from the siege.

When sentencing New Jersey gym owner Scott Fairlamb, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth underlined the seriousness of his actions. Fairlamb was caught on police body cams yelling at policemen, shoving one, and hitting him in the face. In August, he entered a guilty plea.

“I don’t think any jury could have acquitted you if you had gone to trial,” the judge told Fairlamb.

Fairlamb was the first rioter to be jailed for attacking police officers. Lamberth stated that his sentencing would serve as a model for the more than 120 defendants accused of attacking police during the Capitol assault by tens of thousands of Donald Trump supporters attempting to overturn his election loss.

A Capitol Police officer was killed by demonstrators the day after the incident, and four police officers who participated in the Capitol’s defence later committed suicide. A total of 140 police officers were hurt.

Lamberth had been requested by Fairlamb’s counsel to “take into account the estimated 11 months his client has already served in detention” and not add any further time.

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An emotional Fairlamb addressed the judge during the session, claiming he had brought shame to his family’s name.

Fairlamb remarked, “I have nothing but remorse,” later adding, “I just hope you show some mercy on me, sir.”

Federal prosecutors had recommended a 44-month sentence.

During Wednesday’s hearing, Justice Department lawyer Leslie Goemaat emphasised Fairlamb’s martial arts expertise as well as previous run-ins with the government.

Goemaat added, “He was taught to throw a punch and was well aware of the hurt he could cause.”

She then brought up a video of Fairlamb from the riots, in which he said: “What exactly do the Patriots do? We’ll f—kin’ disarm them before storming the f—-kin’ Capitol!”

According to Goemaat, “the defendant’s remarks on that day show that he came prepared for violence.”

According to the Justice Department, 210 persons have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding police officers or employees during the attack. In addition, four persons have admitted to attacking law enforcement officers.

The attack on the Capitol arose after Trump delivered an angry address in which he reaffirmed his bogus assertion that his election loss was due to widespread fraud. Those accusations have been dismissed by multiple courts, state election officials, and members of Trump’s administration.