California Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Capitol Riot Violence
A California man, Daniel “DJ” Rodriguez, has been sentenced to 151 months, or about 12 and a half years, in prison for his involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to charges of violent and obstructive conduct during the riot, including attacking former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone with a taser, causing him to lose consciousness.
As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted to working to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. He will also have to pay $96,000 for Fanone’s medical treatment and $2,000 in restitution for the destruction of the Capitol.
Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence of 14 years, stating that Rodriguez was one of the most violent defendants on January 6. They revealed that Rodriguez administered a group chat in which he and a co-defendant discussed battles and operations in Washington, D.C. before then-President Donald Trump announced his rally on January 6.
During the sentencing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson criticized Rodriguez, stating that he showed up in D.C. “spoiling for a fight” and called him a “one-man army of hate.” She emphasized that people need to understand that such actions cannot be repeated.
Rodriguez’s attorneys claimed that he was remorseful for his actions and had written a letter to Fanone expressing his apologies. In the letter, Rodriguez referred to Fanone as a brave man and expressed his deep respect for law enforcement.
However, after the sentencing, Rodriguez left the court yelling, “Trump won.” Fanone, who was present in the courtroom, walked out during Rodriguez’s address, stating that he wasn’t going to listen to him. In response to Rodriguez’s comment, Fanone retorted that Rodriguez would have “13 years to think about it.”
According to court filings, Rodriguez believed that the 2020 Presidential election had been stolen, and he felt that those responsible should be in prison or dead. He had posted in the group chat, “Congress can Hang. I’ll do it. Please let us get these people dear God.”
Rodriguez and his co-defendant, Edward Badalian, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., where they attended Trump’s rally before marching to the Capitol. Badalian was found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year.
Prosecutors detailed Rodriguez’s actions during the riot, including discharging a fire extinguisher at officers and using a taser on Fanone. They also stated that Rodriguez tried to break an office window from the inside using a wooden plank.
Rodriguez’s defense attorney blamed Trump for the riot and Rodriguez’s conduct, arguing that his client believed the former President’s lies and manipulation. They claimed that Rodriguez, like thousands of others, gathered at the Capitol on January 6 with the understanding that they were there to protect their government on behalf of the President.
This sentencing serves as a reminder of the consequences individuals face for their involvement in the Capitol riot and the ongoing efforts to hold those responsible accountable for their actions.California Man Sentenced to 12.5 Years in Prison for Capitol Riot Violence
A California man, Daniel “DJ” Rodriguez, was sentenced to 151 months, or about 12 and a half years, in prison on Wednesday for his involvement in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. Rodriguez pleaded guilty to charges of violent and obstructive conduct during the riot, including attacking former Washington, D.C. police officer Michael Fanone with a taser.
As part of his plea agreement, Rodriguez admitted to working to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election. He also agreed to pay $96,000 for Fanone’s medical treatment and $2,000 in restitution for the destruction of the Capitol.
Prosecutors had requested a longer sentence of 14 years, arguing that Rodriguez played a significant role in planning the assault on the Capitol. They revealed that Rodriguez administered a group chat in which he and a co-defendant discussed battles and operations in Washington, D.C. before then-President Donald Trump announced his rally on January 6.
During the sentencing, Judge Amy Berman Jackson criticized Rodriguez, calling him “one of the most violent defendants” from the January 6 riot. She stated that people need to understand that such actions cannot be repeated.
Rodriguez’s attorneys claimed that he was remorseful for his actions and even wrote a letter to Fanone expressing his apologies. In the letter, Rodriguez referred to Fanone as a brave man and expressed his deep respect for law enforcement.
However, after the sentencing, Rodriguez left the court shouting, “Trump won.” Fanone, who was present in the courtroom, walked out during Rodriguez’s address, stating that he was not going to listen to him. In response to Rodriguez’s comment, Fanone retorted that Rodriguez would have “13 years to think about it.”
According to court filings, Rodriguez believed that the 2020 Presidential election had been stolen, and he felt that those responsible should be in prison or dead. Prosecutors argued that this mistaken belief gave him the authority, in his mind, to plan an assault on anyone who stood in his way.
Rodriguez and his co-defendant, Edward Badalian, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., where they attended Trump’s rally before joining the mob at the Capitol. Badalian was found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding earlier this year.
During the riot, Rodriguez discharged a fire extinguisher at officers and used a taser on Fanone, causing him to lose consciousness. He later entered the Capitol and attempted to break an office window.
Prosecutors emphasized that there was ample evidence to prove that Rodriguez specifically worked to obstruct Congress’ work on that day. They argued that his conviction for using violence against a police officer defending the seat of the government during the peaceful transfer of power was significant.
Rodriguez’s defense attorney placed blame on Trump, stating that his client believed the former President’s lies and manipulation, just like thousands of others who gathered at the Capitol on January 6.
The sentencing of Rodriguez serves as a reminder of the consequences individuals face for their involvement in the Capitol riot. It also highlights the ongoing political divisions and the impact of misinformation on public perception and actions.
How does the disrespectful behavior of Rodriguez towards law enforcement during the Capitol riot reflect on the broader issue of respect for law enforcement?
Respect for law enforcement.
After the sentencing, Rodriguez left the court shouting, “Trump won.” Fanone, who was present in the courtroom, walked out during Rodriguez’s address, stating that he was not going to listen to him and replied that Rodriguez would have “13 years to think about it.”
According to court documents, Rodriguez believed that the 2020 Presidential election had been stolen and felt that those responsible should be imprisoned or killed. He had written in the group chat, “Congress can Hang. I’ll do it. Please let us get these people dear God.”
Rodriguez and his co-defendant, Edward Badalian, traveled from Los Angeles to Washington, D.C., where they attended Trump’s rally before marching to the Capitol. Badalian was previously found guilty of conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding.
Prosecutors detailed Rodriguez’s actions during the riot, which included discharging a fire extinguisher at officers and using a taser on Fanone. They also stated that Rodriguez attempted to break an office window from the inside using a wooden plank.
Rodriguez’s defense attorney blamed Trump for the riot and Rodriguez’s behavior, arguing that his client believed the former President’s falsehoods and manipulation. They claimed that Rodriguez, like many others, gathered at the Capitol on January 6 with the belief that they were there to protect their government on behalf of the President.
This sentencing serves as a reminder that individuals will face consequences for their involvement in the Capitol riot, and efforts to hold those responsible accountable continue.
It is essential that the law holds individuals accountable for their violent actions, regardless of political affiliation. This sentencing sends a strong message that the Capitol rioters will face the consequences of their actions.
It’s crucial to hold individuals accountable for their violent actions during the Capitol riot. This sentence sends a stern message that such behavior will not be tolerated and reinforces the importance of preserving peace and democracy.