WASHINGTON – Concerns were raised by a federal judge during a sentencing hearing on Thursday, regarding the possibility of another violent attack following remarks made by former President Donald Trump in relation to the 2024 presidential election. U.S. District Judge Rudy Contreras expressed these concerns while sentencing a Colorado geophysicist, Jeffrey Sabol, to over five years in federal prison for his involvement in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Sabol had admitted to believing the election was stolen and claimed that Dominion voting machines had been tampered with, attributing his actions on Jan. 6 to feelings of “patriotic rage.”
Contreras emphasized that Trump and his supporters played a role in inciting the attack on the Capitol. He expressed worries that individuals like Sabol could potentially respond to similar calls to action in the future. Sabol, who had assaulted officers during the Capitol attack, had been in pretrial custody since his arrest on Jan. 11, 2021, shortly after the incident. The judge also ordered Sabol to pay restitution and serve a period of supervised release.
Leading up to the Capitol attack, Trump’s supporters interpreted his December 2020 tweet as a call to arms. As cases against hundreds of Trump supporters make their way through federal court, many defendants have cited the former president’s baseless claims about the 2020 election as reasons for their actions on Jan. 6. Some defendants have expressed regret and embarrassment for being swayed by false information, labeling themselves as “idiots.”
During Sabol’s sentencing, Micki Witthoeft, the mother of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbit, was present in the courtroom. Witthoeft revealed that she had spoken with Trump earlier, discussing his intentions to help Jan. 6 defendants once he regains power. The former president’s own legal challenges, including claims of presidential immunity from criminal charges, are currently being addressed by the Supreme Court.
Judges in Washington have made statements attributing responsibility to Trump for the events of Jan. 6. They have highlighted ongoing concerns about the spread of misinformation and the danger it poses to democracy. Recent comments from Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth expressed dismay over the acceptance of baseless claims about the Capitol attack, warning of potential consequences if such rhetoric continues to prevail.
As the legal proceedings unfold and the country grapples with the aftermath of the Capitol attack, the role of political leaders in shaping public discourse and fostering national unity remains a critical issue for the judiciary and the public alike.