Philadelphian Zack Rehl, the leader of the local Proud Boys chapter, was sentenced to 15 years in prison, one of the longest sentences in the lot of January 6th cases, for his role in the January 6th Republican-led domestic terrorist attack on Congress, with US District Judge Timothy Kelly not buying into Rehl’s lawyer’s claim that people are making too much about the coup attempt because it focuses on Donald Trump.  Federal prosecutors sought a 30 year sentence.

Rehl was sentenced to the lengthy sentence largely because of his continued contempt for the proceedings, including lying on the stand and efforts to obstruct the investigation.  Unlike fellow defendant Joseph Biggs, Rehl was also found guilty of physically assaulting police officers, including using a chemical spray during the attack.  Plus, after the attack, Rehl bragged about it to others via direct messages and social media.

After his lawyer argued Donald Trump should be held culpable for misleading people like Rehl, Kelly said he didn’t buy it.  Rehl echoed this in his statement to the court:  “Politicians spread lies about elections. … I fell for it hook, line and sinker…it cost me everything.” He declared that he’s “done with politics” and tried to butter up the judge by declaring that Kelly had been fair, saying Rehl has “sung [the judge’s] praises.”  Rehl apologized to his family for dragging them into this, but he did not apologize to the law enforcement officers he attacked or to the members of Congress he targetted.