''Deterrence' is critical': Judge urged to throw book at Jan. 6 rioter to stop repeat
The Justice Department sought 27 months in prison for a convicted Jan. 6 rioter, according to CBS News' Scott MacFarlane.
"Prosecutor tells judge 'deterrence' is critical; Bell is accused [of] being 'agitated, angry & violent' as she accosted police & media on Jan 6," wrote MacFarlane on X. "Prosecutor argues Bell engaged in 'prolonged, abusive and violent' behavior. Prosecutor says Bell grabbed police officer’s baton, as police tried to clear mob away after Ashli Babbitt was shot."
Babbitt, who died after being shot by police while trying to force her way into an area of the Capitol where members of Congress were trying to evacuate, has become a martyr on the far-right, with former President Donald Trump himself calling the officer who defended the Capitol from her a "thug."
According to prosecutors, Bell shouted “Get a real job” and “No one supports you” at Officer Jeff Smith, who died by suicide shortly after the Jan. 6 attack.
ALSO READ: He’s a sociopath:' J.D. Vance has Congressional Democrats freaking out
The defense team tried to say her actions weren't truly violent, asking for leniency because she was "caught up in the moment" and saying there are videos, unreviewed by the court, that show her walking around "like she was in Disneyland." They also disputed the claim that Bell had been inside the Capitol for 30 minutes, saying it was just 19 minutes.
Around 1,300 people have been arrested in connection with the Capitol attack that sought to stop the electoral count for President Joe Biden from being certified, with hundreds of convictions and plea deals.
Most defendants were charged with misdemeanor offenses like trespassing and disorderly conduct. However, a handful faced more serious charges including assaulting police officers, and, in the case of some of the leaders of the far-right Proud Boys and Oath Keepers, seditious conspiracy.
Former President Donald Trump has toyed with the idea of pardoning at least some of the rioters if he is re-elected.