Capitol rioter gets 20 years

David Nicholas Dempsey, a supporter of Donald Trump, was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison for violent assaults on police officers during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, making his sentence one of the longest handed down to date for rioters. Prosecutors deemed Dempsey one of the most violent participants, highlighting his use of makeshift weapons like flagpoles, crutches, and pepper spray against law enforcement, resulting in serious injuries to at least two officers. U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth described Dempsey's actions as 'exceptionally egregious' and emphasized that they were intentional rather than impulsive. Dempsey, who has a history of political violence, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting police officers, and his sentence exceeded that of only one other defendant, Enrique Tarrio, who received 22 years for orchestrating violence. Dempsey expressed remorse in court, apologizing to the officers he attacked, while his family claims he is being politically silenced. The riot itself resulted in multiple fatalities and injuries among law enforcement, following a rally where Trump reiterated false claims about the 2020 election.