Today (January 6) marks one year since the Capitol riots.
Six days into 2021, thousands of MAGA supporters acted like “wild” thugs and gangsters. They illegally entered the U.S. Capitol and incited violence. It resulted in four fatalities, and Trump’s social media accounts were temporarily banned.
On December 19, 2020, former President Donald Trump urged people to “be there, be wild” on January 6, after challenging the result of last November’s presidential election where Biden won.
So what has happened since then? To date, more than 725 have reportedly been arrested. More than 30 so far have been sentenced to incarceration, with U.S. officials vowing that more prosecutions are likely in the future, a news source reports. Investigators are reportedly seeking help from the public to identify 350 rioters, including 250 suspected of attacking police officers.
Some of the rioters stuck out more than others because of how aggressive and wild they acted last year. Here’s an update on them:
The QAnon’ Shaman,’ born Jacob Chansley, 34, aka the hardcore “MAGA till I die” Trump supporter. He was spotted in photos wearing horns and a bearskin headdress, probably one of the most recognizable figures from the insurrection.
Chansley was arrested days after the riot, and in November, he was sentenced to 41 months in prison for his involvement. Once he’s released, he’ll be on supervised release for 36 months. He received one of the longest sentences out of all the rioters. In court, Chansley said he believes it was “wrong” to enter the Capitol and that he hopes to “evolve.”
The “podium guy” born Adam Johnson, 36, aka, the Florida resident, went viral in his Trump beanie, smiling super hard in a photo as he held a stolen podium from the capital.
Johnson faces six months in prison after pleading guilty in November. He was also ordered to pay $9,500 in fines. Other charges were dropped in exchange for his guilty plea. Johnson also agreed to hand over any publishing profits to the government for a five-year period if he releases a book.
Another loyal Trump supporter, Richard Barnett, 61, who was sitting with one boot on a desk in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is currently in jail. He’s being held in a Washington DC jail awaiting trial and will appear before a judge on February 1. He pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
He’s facing multiple charges in connection with the riot, including obstruction of an official proceeding, entering a restricted building with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and disorderly conduct, BBC reports.
The man spotted holding the huge Confederate battle flag while walking through the building, Kevin Seefried, 52, remains free while he’s facing charges. His son, Hunter, is also facing charges; he also remains out of jail.
They were both charged for violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds. They pleaded not guilty and are awaiting trial.
The son of a prominent and politically connected New York City judge, Aaron Mostofsky, 35, aka the “caveman,” faces multiple charges. He was hit with charges for theft of government property, assaulting or impeding officers, and disorderly conduct.
He has pleaded not guilty to all and is scheduled to appear in court for a jury trial on January 24. In viral photos, he was spotted wearing a fur pelt. He also held a police riot shield and wooden stick inside the U.S. Capitol.
BBC points out, “Mostofsky told the New York Post he felt that supporters of President Trump ‘were cheated’ in the election.” Mostofsky said, “I don’t think 75 million people voted for Trump – I think it was close to 85 million. He continued, “I think certain states that have been red for a long time turned blue and were stolen, like New York.”
CNN mentioned, “judges have rebuffed the Justice Department and instead imposed fines and probation, which means the rioters will avoid jail but stay under government supervision for years to come.”