A former official from the US State Department during the previous Trump administration received a prison sentence of nearly six years on Friday (Nov 3) for his involvement in the attack on police officers during the January 6, 2021 Capitol Hill riot. Federico Klein, a Marine Corps veteran, was reported by the Associated Press to have joined other supporters of former President Donald Trump in the assault on the Capitol.
Federal prosecutors accused Klein of assaulting police officers repeatedly, encouraging rioters to join the violence, and attempting to prevent police from closing entrance doors. According to court filings by the prosecutors, Klein conducted an aggressive attack on police officers in an attempt to enter the Capitol and disrupt the certification of Joe Biden’s 2020 election victory over Trump.
“On the afternoon of January 6, Klein, a 42-year-old former member of the US Marine Corps and a presidential appointee to the State Department, joined the large mob fighting against the police on the West Plaza. While there, he shoved police officers who were trying to control the crowd and protect the building, including U.S. Capitol Police Officer Harvell. During that assault, Klein called out, ‘You can’t stop this!'” the filing stated.
Klein was convicted of eight felonies, including six counts of assault, civil disorder, and obstruction of an official proceeding, as well as four misdemeanors following a bench trial, according to the filing.
Although he did not testify at his trial, Klein also chose not to address the court before US District Judge Trevor McFadden handed down a sentence of five years and 10 months in prison.
The judge, in response to Klein’s actions on January 6th, said, “Your actions on January 6th were shocking and egregious.” Klein was also ordered to pay a $3,000 fine and $2,000 in restitution.
Klein had worked in the State Department’s Office of Brazilian and Southern Cone Affairs from 2017 and left the position on January 19, 2021, one day before Biden’s inauguration.
Prosecutors on Friday argued that Klein’s participation in the riot was likely motivated by a desire to retain his job as a presidential appointee.
Klein’s attorney, Stanley Woodward, accused prosecutors of exaggerating his client’s role in the riot due to his political connections with the Trump administration. Woodward contended that Klein should be sentenced based on his actual role in the events of the day, rather than being held accountable for the more severe conduct of others.
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