A judge sentenced Ray Epps, the man who was caught on tape urging protesters to storm the Capitol on January 6, to one year of probation for his role in the Capitol riot.
James Boasberg, Chief Judge of the United States District Court for the District of Columbia Epps convicted The sentence was suspended for 12 months after Department of Justice (DOJ) prosecutors recommended that Epps be sentenced to six months in prison for the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol attack and his prior actions. He was also ordered to pay $500 in restitution. (Related: Biden compares Jan. 6 protesters to Confederate soldiers, calls them second 'lost cause')
While you're watching Trump: Ray Epps was sentenced to one year of probation by Chief Judge Boasberg for his role in the January 6th attack. pic.twitter.com/0QtPy1Dxnf
— Kyle Cheney (@kyledcheney) January 9, 2024
Epps pleaded guilty in September to one misdemeanor count of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds after reaching an agreement with federal prosecutors.
Epps' defense team suggested he be given probation. In response to In the prosecutor's sentencing memorandum requesting a six-month suspended sentence.
“For the reasons set forth above, the undersigned attorney, on behalf of Ray Epps, asks the court to issue a suspended sentence with conditions including, but not necessarily, firearm restrictions, $500 restitution, and a mandatory $25 special assessment. “We demand that the law be imposed,” Epps' legal team said. concluded.
Livestream footage taken on the night of January 5, 2021, showed Epps urging a crowd of Trump supporters to enter the Capitol building on January 6.
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
“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. Peace,” Epps can be heard saying.
The footage sparked widespread speculation that Epps was a federal agent, since as of January 6 he had not yet been charged in his role. Epps slammed Daily Caller co-founder Tucker Carlson and Fox News over federal prosecutors' decision to indict him in a defamation lawsuit against the network.
More than 1,200 defendants from across the country have been indicted in the three years since the January 6 incident, according to the Justice Department. update.
More than 500 of the defendants pleaded guilty to misdemeanor charges.
