Prosecutors secure first man to plead guilty in Capitol riots case
Right wing’s Oath Keeper’s founder becomes the first man to plead guilty to taking part in the U.S. capitol riot, which occurred on January 6th and is considered a deadly assault on the seat of American democracy.
Jon Schaffer, a native of Indiana and the founder of the band named, Iced Earth, entered a guilty plea to two felony charges that were of breaching restricted building and obstructing the certification of the 2020 election.
Amit Mehta, U.S. District Judge in a hearing at Washington D.C. federal court said that Schaffer had no previous criminal record and he had willingly contacted the authorities shortly after the Capitol riot. The court agreed to release Schaffer,52, from custody on his own recognizance as he was involved in cooperating with the government investigators. Further, for him, another hearing is scheduled for mid-June.
Schaffer is among hundreds of Trump’s supporters who clashed with police and stormed the Capitol to overturn the November 2019 election results. Rioters smashed the windows and sent lawmakers fleeing for safety.
Five people including a police officer, Brian Sicknick, died in the violence.
As per prosecutors, Schaffer carried a bear spray repellent and wore a tactical vest when he joined the violence at the Capitol.
Prosecutor in a court filing said that Schaffer was “among the rioters who sprayed and the United States Capitol Police officers with ‘bear spray’”. They also said that he was “captured and photographed by the surveillance video” carrying bear spray and “engaging in a verbal altercation with Capitol Police Officer inside the Capitol Building”.
Until now more than 400 people have been arrested and charged on the grounds of taking part in the violence. Assault, conspiracy, and obstruction of Congress and law enforcement have been some of the most serious charges.
