Justice Dept. to seek longest sentence in any Jan. 6 Capitol riot case so far
The Justice Department will seek the longest prison sentence in any U.S. Capitol riot case next week, when it argues at the sentencing of former New York City police officer and U.S. Marine Thomas Webster.
Webster, who once served on the protective detail of former New York mayor Michael Bloomberg, was convicted in a Washington, D.C., federal court in May on charges of assaulting law enforcement.
In a new court filing ahead of Thursday's sentencing hearing, the Justice Department seeks a sentence of 210 months in prison for Webster — more than 17 years. The sentence is nearly the double the longest prison terms handed down in any Capitol riot case so far.
Prosecutors argue Webster spearheaded a breach against the police line on Jan. 6, 2021, and was responsible for disgracing a democracy that he once fought honorably to protect and serve.
FILE: Thomas Webster, at Capitol on January 6, 2021. Federal charging documents
In his court filing seeking leniency ahead of the sentencing hearing, Webster disavowed claims of fraud in the 2020 election and included a letter of support from a friend who blames former President Trump for despicable lies.
After a four-day trial, the jury convicted Webster in just a matter of hours.
Prosecutors presented a series of images and videos of Webster as part of their case, including video of him swinging a flag pole at a police officer, forcefully enough to break the pole.
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