WASHINGTON — Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boy who smashed a Capitol window with a stolen police riot shield, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Friday.
Pezzola was the only one of the five defendants in the Proud Boys trial who was not convicted of the top charge of seditious conspiracy. Prosecutors had sought 20 years for him.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly who handed down Pezzola’s sentence gave two other Proud Boys prison terms of roughly half of what prosecutors sought on Thursday. Joe Biggs, a former InfoWars correspondent, was sentenced to 17 years in federal prison Thursday, and Zach Rehl, a Philadelphia Proud Boy who was found to have pepper-sprayed officers, was sentenced to 15 years.
Pezzola took the stand in his own defense at trial in April, calling the charges against him “fake” and bringing up conspiracy theories about Ray Epps, a Jan. 6 participant who has not yet been charged.
Extensive video evidence documented Pezzola’s actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6, including a video he filmed inside after leading the breach. He was found guilty of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, as well as stealing the police shield and other charges in May.
“Knew we could take this motherf----- over if we just tried hard enough,” he said in his own Jan. 6 video.
Prosecutors said he “acted as a soldier in the civil war he had envisioned” on Jan. 6.
“Pezzola’s actions showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had intended to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct,” prosecutors wrote. “While sparring with police who were trying to quell the mob’s advance, Pezzola robbed an officer of his riot shield. Rather than taking actions consistent with his self-professed motive of self-defense, Pezzola celebrated, posing with the shield while flashing the Proud Boys hand gesture, and chanting ‘USA! USA!’ While holding the shield above his head triumphantly.”
“It boggles my mind,” Kelly said of Pezzola’s actions during the riot, including smashing the window and filming a video of himself taking a “victory smoke” in the Capitol crypt.
During Friday’s hearing, Pezzola’s longtime partner, Lisa Magee, reiterated what she said on the stand at trial: that Pezzola was “a f—ing idiot.” She said her daughters have had to suffer, and have been bullied at home due to their father’s actions.
Magee, who testified that Pezzola was getting drunk and watching Fox News before Jan. 6, said that she’d already canceled cable news at their home. “I truly believe if he could go back and change … that day that he would," she said.
Magee and Pezzola’s mother both spoke before the court through tears and Pezzola could be seen holding his head in his hands and wiping away tears with a tissue while they spoke. His 19-year-old daughter remained stoic during her statement, telling Kelly about the positive impact her father has had on her life.
“I am everything good that my father has done that you have not seen,” she said.
Prior to his sentencing, Pezzola told the judge, “I stand before you today as a changed and humble man. I have never denied what I did on J6.”
“This was the worst, most regrettable decision in my life and I’m truly sorry,” he said, promising that he would never again do anything that would land him in a courtroom.
While being led out of the courtroom after Kelly had departed, Pezzola turned towards the audience, raised one fist and shouted, “Trump won!”
“Prior to his sentencing, Pezzola told the judge, “I stand before you today as a changed and humble man. I have never denied what I did on J6.””
And then-
“While being led out of the courtroom after Kelly had departed, Pezzola turned towards the audience, raised one fist and shouted, “Trump won!””
They will NEVER be sorry for what they do. This requires a conscience. They have no conscience. They are only sorry they get caught.
These people deserve no mercy, no compassion, and no sympathy.
Fascists never do.
Extensive video evidence documented Pezzola’s actions at the Capitol on Jan. 6, including a video he filmed inside after leading the breach. He was found guilty of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers, as well as stealing the police shield and other charges in May.
Special kind of stupid.
“Knew we could take this motherf----- over if we just tried hard enough,” he said in his own Jan. 6 video.
Making the prosecutor’s job so easy, it’s pathetic.
“Pezzola’s actions showed beyond a shadow of a doubt that he had intended to influence or affect the conduct of government by intimidation or coercion, or to retaliate against government conduct,” prosecutors wrote. “While sparring with police who were trying to quell the mob’s advance, Pezzola robbed an officer of his riot shield. Rather than taking actions consistent with his self-professed motive of self-defense, Pezzola celebrated, posing with the shield while flashing the Proud Boys hand gesture, and chanting ‘USA! USA!’ While holding the shield above his head triumphantly.”
“It boggles my mind,” Kelly said of Pezzola’s actions during the riot, including smashing the window and filming a video of himself taking a “victory smoke” in the Capitol crypt.
Truly a very special kind of stupid.
During Friday’s hearing, Pezzola’s longtime partner, Lisa Magee, reiterated what she said on the stand at trial: that Pezzola was “a f—ing idiot.”
I respect that about her.
Magee, who testified that Pezzola was getting drunk and watching Fox News before Jan. 6, said that she’d already canceled cable news at their home. “I truly believe if he could go back and change … that day that he would," she said.
Alcohol, Faux News, and an admiration for Trump. Each alone is an obvious recipe for disaster. But at least his girlfriend tried to help him.
Magee and Pezzola’s mother both spoke before the court through tears and Pezzola could be seen holding his head in his hands and wiping away tears with a tissue while they spoke.
I feel bad for the women/daughters in his life.
He bares humility before the judge:
Prior to his sentencing, Pezzola told the judge, “I stand before you today as a changed and humble man. I have never denied what I did on J6.”
“This was the worst, most regrettable decision in my life and I’m truly sorry,” he said, promising that he would never again do anything that would land him in a courtroom.
But on his way out, he shouts his lie in anger:
While being led out of the courtroom after Kelly had departed, Pezzola turned towards the audience, raised one fist and shouted, “Trump won!”
You know what? Fuck this fascist. Three years served, now throw in another 10. Good!
Reminder that Steve Bannon frankly confessed Trump’s Start the Steal conspiracy plans to a group of Trump insiders before the election.
https://www.npr.org/2022/07/22/1112138665/jan-6-committee-hearing-transcript
…audio from Trump advisor, Steve Bannon, surfaced from October 31st, 2020, just a few days before the Presidential election.
Let’s listen. [Begin Videotape]
STEVE BANNON: And what Trump’s going to do is declare victory, right? He’s going to declare victory, but that doesn’t mean he’s a winner. He’s just gonna say he’s a winner. The Democrats — more of our people vote early that count. Theirs vote in mail. And so they’re going to have a natural disadvantage and Trump’s going to take advantage — that’s our strategy.
He’s gonna declare himself a winner. So when you wake up Wednesday morning, it’s going to be a firestorm. Also — also if Trump is — if Trump is losing by 10 or 11:00 at night, it’s going to be even crazier. Because he’s gonna sit right there and say they stole it. If Biden’s wining, Trump is going to do some crazy shit.
His 19-year-old daughter remained stoic during her statement, telling Kelly about the positive impact her father has had on her life.“I am everything good that my father has done that you have not seen,” she said.
This doesn’t diminish his guilt. It just emphasizes his craziness. Hitler was a nice guy too: loved animals and nature, painted a bit, was nice to kids. It doesn’t excuse his crimes.
That parting shot makes me think the only thing he’s sorry for is that the coup failed.
Yes, exactly - well said.
Imagine doing anything for a lost President that’s not your high paying job. Let alone go to jail for him. While he has no idea who you are.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
WASHINGTON — Dominic Pezzola, a Proud Boy who smashed a Capitol window with a stolen police riot shield, was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison on Friday.
U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly who handed down Pezzola’s sentence gave two other Proud Boys prison terms of roughly half of what prosecutors sought on Thursday.
Rather than taking actions consistent with his self-professed motive of self-defense, Pezzola celebrated, posing with the shield while flashing the Proud Boys hand gesture, and chanting 'USA!
“It boggles my mind,” Kelly said of Pezzola’s actions during the riot, including smashing the window and filming a video of himself taking a “victory smoke” in the Capitol crypt.
While being led out of the courtroom after Kelly had departed, Pezzola turned towards the audience, raised one fist and shouted, “Trump won!”
Another Jan. 6 participant, Danny Rodriguez, also yelled “Trump won!” after he was sentenced to 12.5 years in June for driving a stun gun into former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone’s neck.
The original article contains 624 words, the summary contains 165 words. Saved 74%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
Thank you, good bot.
Good.
Not long enough, not for any of them
She said her daughters have had to suffer, and have been bullied at home due to their father’s actions.
Hold up.
Bullied “at home”?
Is she admitting to bullying her own children?
