WASHINGTON — A Donald Trump supporter who filmed himself assaulting law enforcement officials and breaking into the Senate chamber in the course of the Jan. 6 riot pleaded responsible Friday to 2 felony prices.
Tennessee resident Ronald Sandlin, 35, pleaded responsible to conspiracy to impede an official continuing and assaulting, resisting or impeding sure officers.
Sandlin’s pals and co-conspirators, Nathaniel DeGrave and Josiah Colt, beforehand pleaded responsible: DeGrave to the identical two felonies as Sandlin, Colt to felony obstruction.
The trio attended the “Cease the Steal” rally in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, however watched Trump’s speech from a TGI Fridays in Virginia the place they had been having lunch. After they arrived in D.C., Sandlin repeatedly referred to the U.S. Capitol because the “State Capitol constructing” earlier than storming the constructing as alarms blared, courtroom paperwork present. He then joined the mob to attempt to open fireplace doorways to let extra rioters in, grabbing an officer’s helmet within the course of.
“Get out of the way in which! Your life is just not value it at this time,” Sandlin advised officers, as he recorded himself. “You’re going to die, get out of the way in which!”
After rioters made their technique to the Senate, Sandlin started shoving officers who had been attempting to lock the doorways to the Senate gallery. “Do not you lock one other door!” he yelled at them, telling different rioters to “seize the door.”
As soon as contained in the Senate chamber, Sandlin celebrated with a selfie video. “We took it. We did it,” he stated, whereas crying and wheezing contained in the Senate gallery. He later smoked marijuana within the Capitol rotunda, declaring that he’d “made historical past” and that this was “our home,” based on courtroom paperwork.
Sandlin additionally stole a e book, and tried to steal an oil portray, however different rioters prevented him from doing so.
Sandlin had solicited donations for his journey to D.C. on a fundraising web site, writing that he wanted assist of “Patriots Defending Out Nation On Jan sixth.”
Greater than 850 individuals have been arrested in reference to the Capitol assault, and over 350 have pleaded responsible.
Earlier this week, a bodybuilder who dragged an officer down the steps of the Capitol pleaded responsible, and a choose sentenced one of many rioters who assaulted former officer Michael Fanone to greater than seven years in federal jail.
