Federal prosecutors are seeking a six-month prison sentence for Ray Epps, the man who is believed to have encouraged protesters to enter the Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Prosecutors from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the U.S. Attorney's Office for the District of Columbia: Judgment memo On Tuesday, it recommended Epps be sentenced to six months in prison for his alleged participation in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. (Related: Johnson releases January 6th Capitol riot tape)
Please read the note:
“For the reasons stated herein, the Government recommends that this court sentence defendant James Ray Epps Sr. to six months in prison, at the high end of the applicable sentencing guidelines range, from zero to six months.'' ,” the memo said.
Prosecutors are seeking six months in prison for Epps on suspicion of attempting to incite a mob on January 5, 2021, and the following day, and because he was among the mob that overran Capitol Police. claims to be valid.
The Justice Department also cited his “presence and general assistance in pushing a large metal-framed sign into a group of police officers setting up a line of defense.” (4) Participating in group activities such as rugby scrums where you push past police officers in the same row. ”
“This is a unique case in the context of the January 6th defendant. Although Mr. Epps committed a felony act during the January 6th riot, his case has a variety of distinctive and persuasive characteristics. “There are certain mitigating factors that led the government to exercise its prosecutorial discretion and offer Mr. Epps a pre-indictment misdemeanor judicial resolution,” the sentencing memo added. .
Prosecutors offered Epps a misdemeanor plea deal for cooperating with federal authorities and expressing remorse for his actions.
They also suspected that Mr. Epps was an undercover federal agent, based on footage of him opening fire on protesters on January 5 and telling them to enter the Capitol on January 6. He also mentioned widespread speculation. Mr. Epps was not indicted for more than two years. Attacking the Capitol.
I hope Tucker's lawyers let Ray Epps explain why he wasn't arrested by the FBI even though he literally told people to enter the Capitol.pic.twitter.com/rh0ydFdzBE
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) July 12, 2023
The background information section of the sentencing memo includes a screenshot of the livestream footage and a statement from Epps the next day urging the crowd to enter the Capitol building.
“We're way beyond that. In fact, tomorrow, I hate to say it because we're going to get arrested, but we're going to have to go into the Capitol. We're here to protect the Constitution. [. . .] I'm going to get this out. I'll probably go to jail for that. I have to go to the Capitol tomorrow. To the National Diet Building. Peacefully,” Epps said in a Jan. 6 video recorded by another defendant.
He was recorded on Jan. 6 directing several demonstrators to enter the Capitol and leaving to walk toward the Capitol during former President Donald Trump's speech, according to the sentencing memo. .
In his defamation lawsuit against Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson, Epps said he was notified by the Justice Department in May that he would be prosecuted and blamed Fox News for the Justice Department's decision.
More than 1,200 defendants have been charged in the nearly three years since the January 6 Capitol riot, according to the Justice Department. Portal.
About 700 people have pleaded guilty to federal charges, including about 500 misdemeanor guilty pleas.
