At sentencing, Jan. 6 rioter demands 'full pardon,' gets 8-year term
Source: Washington Post
NATIONAL SECURITY
At sentencing, Jan. 6 rioter demands ‘full pardon,’ gets 8-year term
Zachary J. Alam demanded a full pardon and “full restitution” at his sentencing. A judge pointed to his lack of remorse in imposing the penalty.
By Tom Jackman
November 7, 2024 at 6:48 p.m. EST
In the pantheon of the more than 1,500 people who have been arrested for participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot, Zachary J. Alam captured his moment of fame as the man who was recorded punching the glass windows leading to the Speaker’s Lobby. Using a helmet to finish smashing the glass, he created the space into which Ashli Babbitt then climbed, where she was fatally shot by a Capitol Police officer.
At his sentencing on Thursday, Alam told a federal judge he knew that his breaking the glass was illegal. But he said he felt his actions were justified because he believed the 2020 election was stolen, pointing to Donald Trump’s victory in this year’s presidential race as he quipped, “four years later Americans were able to rectify the situation.”
U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich pointed to his “lack of remorse” as she sentenced him to eight years in prison, among the longest terms for a Jan. 6 defendant not affiliated with the Oath Keepers or Proud Boys groups.
{snip}
Alam, a University of Virginia graduate, will receive credit for the nearly four years he has already spent in jail. {snip} Friedrich told Alam that “your continued defense of your actions suggests to the court that deterrence is critically important in this case.” She suggested that Alam be placed in a federal medical facility for mental health treatment and closed by saying, “Mr. Alam, I look forward to seeing you 60 days after your release.” … Alam stared at her, saying nothing.
By Tom Jackman
Tom Jackman has been covering criminal justice for The Washington Post since 1998 and anchors the True Crime blog. He previously covered crime and courts for the Kansas City Star.follow on X @TomJackmanWP
Read more: https://www.washingtonpost.com/dc-md-va/2024/11/07/alam-sentenced-capitol-riot-jan6/
= new reply since forum marked as read
