When Thomas Webster, a former New York City police officer and U.S. Marine, is sentenced the following week, the Justice Department will argue for the worst prison term in any case involving a U.S. Capitol riot.
Webster, who had worked as part of Michael Bloomberg’s security detail in New York, was found guilty of attacking police officers in May in a federal court in Washington, D.C.
The Justice Department is requesting a sentence of 210 months in prison—more than 17 years—for Webster in a new court filing before to Thursday’s sentencing hearing. The sentence is almost twice as long as any other Capitol riot case’s previous longest jail sentences.
On January 6, 2021, Webster allegedly “spearheaded” a breach into the police line and was in charge of “disgracing a democracy that he once bravely fought to safeguard and serve.”
FILE: Thomas Webster on January 6, 2021, in the Capitol. Federal charging papers
Prior to the sentencing hearing, Webster requested mercy in court and refuted allegations of 2020 election fraud. He also brought a letter of support from a buddy who accused former President Trump of spreading “despicable falsehoods.”
After a four-day trial, the jury quickly found Webster guilty.
In support of their case, the prosecution displayed a number of pictures and videos of Webster, including one in which he is shown violently throwing a flagpole at a police officer and breaking the pole.
The government claims that after entering a restricted area, Webster screamed at a police officer, “You’re a piece of sh*t. You motherf***ing Commie f***ers, you.” Then, apparently, he crossed the police line and used the flagpole on the officer.
FILE: Capitol Police officer Thomas Webster, with hands covering face, January 6, 2021. Federal charging papers
FILE: During the January 6 uprising at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., Marine veteran Thomas Webster assaults police officers.
The assaults, which were seen on police bodycam and public footage, were said by the Justice Department to have included Webster pinning and forcing Washington, D.C., police officer Noah Rathbun to the ground.
Prosecutors claim Webster came to the Capitol “ready for combat” in order to support their demand for the 17-year jail term. They stated: “Along with his bulletproof vest from the NYPD, he also brought a Smith & Wesson Model 640 handgun that could fit in a jacket pocket for “off-duty” use. Webster also had his military-issued bag, which was filled with Gatorade, water bottles, and meals all prepared. He brought a huge metal flagpole with the red and yellow American Marine Corps flag on it and donned his bulletproof vest to both the rally and the riot.”
Webster asks for a “time-served” punishment, and he wants the 127 days of pretrial incarceration in the case to count toward the sentence the court imposes.
Webster has been “disabused of any sense that the 2020 election was unlawful,” according to his defense, it is claimed. Promoter of 2020 election falsehoods, according to the defense team’s brief on sentence, “have practically taken over one major party.”
Despite several Jan. 6 offenders denying electoral fraud allegations during sentence hearings, few made vehement declarations. The Webster memo prepares the audience for a possibly witty speech during the hearing on Thursday.
A slew of character letters praising Webster for his work with the police and the U.S. Marines were also provided by his defense team. One of those supporters mentioned the effect of the former president Trump’s “despicable falsehoods.”
Defense submits a Thomas Webster character reference letter
The sentencing hearing for Webster will take place in front of federal judge Amit Mehta in Washington, D.C., on Thursday at 2 p.m. Webster’s sentencing hearing will take place in person in the courtroom, despite the fact that several Capitol riot case sentencing hearings have taken place remotely.
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