WASHINGTON(Washington Insider Magazine) – A federal court sentenced a man convicted of hitting two policemen during the riot to six months in jail on Thursday, rebuking the Republican National Committee’s statement declaring the Jan. 6 violence at the U.S. Capitol “legitimate political discourse.”
Leffingwell, 52, who sustained a severe brain injury while serving in the Army National Guard in Iraq, faces 2 years of probation, 200 hours of community service and $2,000 in restitution charges in addition to his prison sentence. In October, he admitted to assaulting, obstructing, or hindering authorities, according to ABC NEWS.
Prosecutors said Leffingwell traveled from Seattle to Philadelphia and drove down with a friend to the Ellipse on Jan. 6 to attend former President Donald Trump’s event. Investigators highlighted recordings showing him standing at the front of a huge crowd on the Senate West Wing stairs, just inside the structure, where police officers created a protective line in front of him, roughly an hour after the assault on the Capitol began, they said.
He was apprehended on the scene, one of the few rioters captured during the violence.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of 27 months for severe assault. Judge Jackson and the attorneys debated for roughly 30 minutes whether the word “aggravated assault” applied in Leffingwell’s case. If that’s the case, he’s committed a criminal act with the intention of committing another.
Judge Jackson said she considered Leffingwell’s severe head trauma as well as the fact that he had no prior criminal record. When she handed down the six-month sentence, she stated she also considered his two boys.
However, in somber and lengthy statements, Jackson stated that there was a need to prevent would-be rioters from following in Leffingwell’s footsteps.
Leffingwell expressed regret in a brief statement to the court.
Prosecutors sought a sentence of 27 months for severe assault. Judge Jackson and the attorneys debated for roughly 30 minutes whether the word “aggravated assault” applied in Leffingwell’s case. If that’s the case, he’s committed a criminal act with the intention of committing another.
Judge Jackson said she considered Leffingwell’s severe head trauma as well as the fact that he had no prior criminal record. When she handed down the six-month sentence, she stated she also considered his two boys.
However, in somber and lengthy statements, Jackson stated that there was a need to prevent would-be rioters from following in Leffingwell’s footsteps.
Leffingwell expressed regret in a brief statement to the court.
Many of his family members and friends sent letters to the judge, characterizing him as “thoughtful” and an “honest and good American” with a strong work ethic.
Despite his severe brain injury, prosecutors maintained he had reasonable judgment and was liable for his acts. “he knew very much what he was doing,” a government lawyer claimed.
