Washington DC: A man from Utah has been sentenced to six years in federal prison. He was involved in storming the U.S. Capitol building on Jan. 6, 2021. It is alleged that he was armed with a knife and a megaphone.
John Earl Sullivan, 29, has been sentenced to 72 months in prison, followed by 36 months of supervised release. Additionally, he has been ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution, as announced by the U.S. Attorney’s Office in a recent news release.
In November, he was found guilty of obstruction, trespassing with a dangerous weapon, disorderly conduct, and unlawful possession of a dangerous weapon.
According to court documents, the case details Sullivan’s online activity prior to January 6, when he participated in the Capitol riots while wearing protective gear and carrying a bullhorn. Authorities stated that Sullivan, who identifies as an activist, had a clear goal of creating disorder and challenging the established order.
“Stay tuned for real-time updates on tonight’s event,” Sullivan shared in an Instagram post during the winter of 2020. “Let the cleansing of the electoral process begin”. On December 30, 2020, Sullivan shared a message along with a photo of Senator Mitch McConnell, advising against gathering around his residence.
In a tweet on Jan. 2, 2021, Sullivan expressed strong discontent with the system and shared an image from a TikTok video where he burned an American flag.
During the incident at the Capitol, he shouted through the bullhorn and urged others to move forward, disregarding police barriers. Hurry, hurry, hurry! That storm was intense!
Upon arriving at the Upper West Terrace, he raised his hand above his head in triumph, let out a whoop, and exclaimed with enthusiasm, using words like “awesome” and “savage,” as stated in court documents, after assisting a rioter in scaling a wall.
According to the document, he proudly recounted his involvement in a previous riot and proceeded to brandish a Smith & Wesson M&P knife with a 3.74-inch blade outside the chamber door of the House of Representatives, which was currently occupied by legislators, staff, and press.
After being denied access to the House floor, the crowd, which included Sullivan, proceeded to the Speaker’s Lobby, where the evacuation of the House floor was taking place. At that moment, Sullivan informed the crowd about the weapon he possessed.
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Court documents reveal that Sullivan is the leader of an organization called Insurgence USA, which he uses to coordinate protests. Court documents revealed that on July 13, 2020, charges were filed against him for rioting and criminal mischief in Provo, Utah. These charges are related to a protest that took place on June 30, 2020, during which an individual was shot and injured.
During an interview with agents in Washington on Jan. 7, 2021, Sullivan revealed that he had attended former President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally and entered the Capitol building while wearing a ballistic vest and gas mask.
According to court documents, the individual claimed to be an activist and journalist who was documenting protests and riots. However, it was revealed that they lacked press credentials and had no affiliation with any journalistic organizations as per Law and Crime.
During the trial, he explained that he raised his voice while the riots were being filmed in order to appear inconspicuous, as he was genuinely concerned for his safety, according to CBS Washington, D.C., affiliate WUSA.
In a heartfelt letter to the judge, family members made a plea to spare him from incarceration. According to reports, the individual in question was described as a kind-hearted individual who was raised in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They were known for their clean record and gentle nature.
According to her, her husband served in the military for 21 years, and both sides of the family have a proud history of career service in the armed forces.
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