A New York rioter from January 6 who ran for the former House seat of George Santos is going to prison.
Online court records show that 49-year-old Philip Sean Grillo was given a one-year prison sentence on Friday.
He was convicted of trespassing, picketing, and disturbing an official proceeding in the Capitol building on December 5, 2023.
After a recent Supreme Court ruling that restricted the government’s application of a federal obstruction legislation, Grillo was exonerated of an obstruction conviction.
Associated coverage:
According to Ryan J. Reilly of NBC News, Grillo swore in court as U.S. Marshals arrested him, adding, “Trump is going to pardon me.”
Ronald Reagan appointment U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth criticized the several rebels who claimed to be political prisoners and wrote about how near the nation came to losing its democracy in a lengthy court brief for the punishment.
In order to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election results and prevent the peaceful transfer of power, which is the cornerstone of our Republican legacy and the core of our Constitution, an enraged mob of rioters invaded and took over the US Capitol on January 6, 2021, the court’s ruling states.
According to the judge, the crowd was avoiding barriers, disregarding signs and barricades, fighting officers head-on, striking them with riot shields, rods, crutches, stolen batons, and fists, and rushing through and over them.
Grillo and the other rioters were reprimanded by Lamberth for trying to minimize their activities afterwards. In his article about the impact the cases had on the nation, he noted that almost all of the more than 100 trials ended in guilty verdicts.
According to the ruling, they have implied or explicitly said that the rioters are political prisoners being punished for First Amendment-protected actions, claiming that the Capitol Riots were a nonviolent demonstration or, at worst, a simple trespass.
To be clear, one of the most important rights protected by our Constitution is the right to a jury trial. This does not, however, mean that every case should go to trial, particularly if there is overwhelming proof of guilt, as was the case in most of the Capitol Riot instances.
It is quite disheartening that so many jurors have to be pulled from their everyday lives to listen to rioters who would prefer to make up excuses than take accountability for their acts.
According to court filings, Grillo used a shattered window near the Senate Wing door and a megaphone to enter the Capitol building around 2:20 p.m.
He was inside when someone did a video interview with him.
The individual asked Grillo, “Look at me, and tell me what you’re here for.”
I’m come to put an end to the stealing. Our fing house is this! Grillo answered, then went on inside the Capitol.
Later, he was among a group of people who broke over police barriers and unlocked the outside doors, letting rioters in.
We succeeded! We arrived at the Capitol structure. We succeeded! Baby, we f did it! Do you get it? We f did it. The Capitol was overrun by us. We shut it down! We succeeded! We cut off the mother! In a selfie video honoring his crime, Grillo confessed.
Grillo made three more trips in and out of the Capitol. He may be seen pressing up on police officers in the video.
He may be heard saying, “Who’s smoking grass?” in one video. Can I finally get a hit out of that?
Another video shows him consuming marijuana in the Capitol and then high-fiving other protestors.
Grillo was taken into custody by FBI officials in New York on February 23, 2021.
He said during his trial that he was unaware that Congress met in the Capitol building, but he also declared his intention to run for the US House to represent New York’s 3rd Congressional District, which Santos had previously occupied.
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Eliot Pierce is a dedicated writer for ChiefsFocus.com, covering local crime and finance news. With a keen eye for detail and a passion for storytelling, Eliot aims to provide his readers with clear and insightful analysis, helping them navigate the complexities of their financial lives while staying informed about important local events. His commitment to delivering accurate and engaging content makes him a valuable resource for the community.