WASHINGTON (AP) — A Kentucky man who stormed the U.S. Capitol while carrying a Confederate battle flag was sentenced on Monday to more than two years in prison for pepper spraying two police officers in the face, partially blinding them for hours during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot.
Isreal Easterday was 19 years old when he joined a mob of Donald Trump supporters in invading the Capitol. He used pepper spray to assault two Capitol police officers who were separately guarding the East Rotunda Doors.
Chief Judge James Boasberg cited Easterday’s youth as a reason for handing down a prison term — two years and six months — that was over five times lower than the Justice Department’s initial sentencing recommendation.
The judge said Easterday, who was homeschooled by his mother while living on a family farm, “may not have fully appreciated what was going on there” at the Capitol on Jan. 6 or recognized that the Confederate flag is a “symbol of rebellion.”
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass safe after suspect breaks into official residence, police say
Policies yield key results in Xiong'an
Feature: Chinese Acupuncturists Earn Recognition, Respect from Algerians
Embroidery Inheritor Promotes 'Ethnic Chic'
Lawyer, 50, who paid off her tax bill with client's £132,000 divorce settlement avoids jail
Rural Entrepreneurs Help Farmers Live Better Lives
Dancer Sheds Light on Living with a Hearing Disability
Central gov't lauds passage of safeguarding national security bill in HKSAR
Nets hire Jordi Fernandez as coach. Fernandez was Kings' associate head coach for two years
Dancer Sheds Light on Living with a Hearing Disability
Olympiakos wins first European title for Greek clubs in UEFA Youth League final
Heartwarming Reunion Raises Toast to China's Medical Aid Missions Abroad