By Raul Castillo
Aug 28, 2024, 8:47 PM EDT
Michael Sparks, the first supporter of former President Donald Trump to storm the U.S. Capitol during the riots on January 6, 2021, has been sentenced to more than four years in federal prison for his role in the events of that day.
Sparks, who was sentenced to 53 months in prison, told the judge that he continues to believe the baseless claims of election fraud spread by former President Donald Trump, according to NBC News.
U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly, who also oversaw the trial of the Proud Boys members, noted the gravity of Sparks’ actions and stressed that while anyone has the right to hold conspiracy theories, they do not have the right to act violently based on them.
During the hearing, Kelly said Sparks’ actions had set a dangerous precedent and that the attack on the Capitol could not be repeated.
Sparks had spent the weeks leading up to January 6 consuming misinformation and sharing conspiracy theories about the 2020 presidential election. Despite evidence against him, he continued to claim the election was stolen, NBC News reported.
“Civil war”
Prosecutors presented evidence that Sparks had expressed a desire for a “civil war” and was willing to die for Trump.
Sparks’ conviction came as more than 1,400 people have been charged in connection with the attack on the Capitol, and more than 1,000 have been convicted.
Despite his lack of criminal history, Judge Kelly exceeded customary sentencing guidelines due to the severity of his actions and the threat they posed to the democratic process in the United States.
Sparks’ case was influenced by a Supreme Court decision affecting the charge of obstruction of an official proceeding, a common charge among defendants in the Jan. 6 case. Although that charge was dropped before sentencing, Kelly considered Sparks’ conduct in attempting to obstruct the counting of Electoral College votes.
Continue reading:
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• Trump denounces judicial “farce” after new accusation and points to Harris as responsible
• Trump was charged again in the election subversion case brought by Jack Smith