Federal prosecutors have requested {that a} former Marine and retired New York Police Division officer obtain a 17-year sentence for his actions in the course of the riot on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 — actions that included him assaulting one other police officer with a Marine Corps flagpole he had introduced alongside.
Thomas Webster, 56, was one of many first folks to be charged for his function within the violence the day Congress was set to certify the outcomes of the presidential election. He was arrested on six fees on Feb. 21, 2021. He was discovered responsible on all counts — all however one have been felonies — on Might 2, 2022.
Prosecutors say Webster confirmed up in Washington, D.C., “armed and prepared for battle.”
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“Not solely did he pack his NYPD-issued bulletproof vest, however he additionally packed his ‘off responsibility’ firearm … [and] his military-issued rucksack containing Meals Prepared-to-Eat, water bottles, and Gatorade,” they state in a sentencing memo.
Confronted by police, Webster challenged Metropolitan Police Division Officer Noah Rathbun to a struggle earlier than breaking by means of the police barricade, tackling Rathbun to the bottom and choking him.
As Webster awaits sentencing, prosecutors have requested for 210 months — 17.5 years — of jail time for the previous Marine and cop “for disgracing a democracy that he as soon as fought honorably to guard and serve.”
If the decide grants the request, which prosecutors famous was “on the low finish” of the rules, Webster will obtain the longest sentence handed all the way down to a Capitol rioter so far.
In early August, a decide sentenced Man Wesley Reffitt, the primary defendant to go on trial for the Jan. 6 assault, to greater than seven years in jail.
In keeping with the sentencing memo submitted by prosecutors Wednesday, Webster “served honorably” within the Marine Corps from 1985 to 1989, then went on to grow to be a New York police officer from 1991 to 2011. These years of expertise, prosecutors wrote, “render his violent assault of Officer Rathbun extra troubling.”
Navy.com reached out to the Marine Corps to confirm Webster’s service historical past however didn’t hear again in time for publication.
“However his background and coaching, Webster didn’t attempt to de-escalate the state of affairs or depart the premises,” prosecutors wrote. “As an alternative, he led the cost.”
Physique digital camera footage exhibits Webster approaching the barricade arrange by officers and pointing to Rathbun, calling him a “f—ing piece of s—” and a “commie.”
Webster then swung the metallic flagpole he was carrying, full with a pink flag with the Marine Corps’ eagle, globe and anchor emblem, at Rathbun “with sufficient drive to interrupt the metallic pole in half.”
“As Officer Rathbun retreated backward towards the inauguration stage, Webster crouched down, charged instantly at [him], and tackled him to the bottom,” the sentencing memo reads.
The previous Marine and cop then dragged Rathbun “by his helmet, pinned him to the bottom, and tried to tear off his gasoline masks,” choking him. Pictures included within the courtroom paperwork present Webster standing over the officer whereas he sits on the Capitol grounds, with each of his arms tightly over Rathbun’s gasoline masks.
“Throughout his testimony, Webster referred to as Officer Rathbun a ‘rogue cop,’ and questioned Officer Rathbun’s coaching, integrity, and professionalism,” prosecutors mentioned.
The Washington Put up reported that it took the jury round three hours to return responsible verdicts on all counts.
In keeping with information from the George Washington College Program on Extremism, Webster is one among greater than 100 defendants with army service arrested for his or her actions in the course of the Jan. 6 riot. With greater than 800 whole folks charged, which means about 12% have some sort of army background.
Though veterans are represented at proportional ranges among the many whole arrests from the violent breach that day, they make up a far larger proportion of individuals dealing with among the most critical fees.
5 of the 11 members of the Oath Keepers indicted on sedition fees for the riot are veterans. Almost all the 5 members of the Proud Boys extremist group additionally indicted for seditious conspiracy are veterans.
Webster is about to be sentenced Sept. 1.
— Konstantin Toropin may be reached at konstantin.toropin@army.com. Comply with him on Twitter @ktoropin.
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