Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the District of Columbia US District Court cited the organizers and speakers at the various rallies held prior to the January 6th domestic terrorist attack at the Capitol for creating the anger and incentive to foment the attack, Politico reports.
The rallies’ organizers “deliberately stoked the flames of fear and discontent and explicitly encouraged [attendees] to go to the Capitol and fight for one reason and one reason only: to make sure the certification of the election didn’t happen,” Jackson said, without mentioning Trump by name, in the sentencing hearing for Russell Peterson, who pleaded guilty to entering the Capitol but did not cause any destruction or injury.
Dani Jahn, Peterson’s attorney, argued that Trump, Giuliani and other bore some responsibility for the violence that occurred January 6th. Jackson supported the claim to a point: she concurred that the disinformation put forth by Trump supporters was a factor in the defendant’s actions, but noted that those who attacked the Capitol did so by their own volition and therefore bore responsibility for their actions. Jackson sentenced Peterson to 30 days in jail — twice as much as prosecutors requested — and $500 in restitution.