Photo via the U.S. Department of Justice
October 6, 2021, 10:36 am
The Capitol Rioter who was filmed throwing wooden planks and a fire extinguisher at police officers on January 6 reportedly sobbed on his defense attorney’s shoulder before walking into the courtroom and pleading guilty of felony assault on law enforcement.
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This very serious charge will likely land Robert Scott Palmer at least a few years in prison even after taking the plea bargain, with reporters saying that the sentencing range should be 46 to 57 months. The maximum sentence for this crime is 20 years and a $25,000 fine.
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The judge accepted Palmer’s guilty plea after asking him directly if he did indeed assault Capitol officers with those items and ordered him to be detained until the sentencing hearing, set for December 7. The rioter was well-prepared for the possibility of losing his freedom for the next few years, reportedly having sold his home and all the possessions he could manage before submitting to the court.
Defense lawyer Bjorn Brunvand said that Palmer’s tears were both from regret and fear of the looming consequences, though we’re willing to bet it’s a little more of the latter.
“That was Mr. Palmer being remorseful for what he did on January 6th,” Brunvand told reporters. “And also, afraid of what’s to come.”
“Unfortunately, he did some things that he shouldn’t have done. He knows he shouldn’t have done them, and those things will forever be part of the American history and he’s part of that.”
This felony charge comes as U.S. residents who were not happy about the attempted coup on American soil have become increasingly concerned about the leniency shown to the Capitol rioters, with many of them being able to plea bargain down to misdemeanor charges and avoid any jail time. Prosecutors are not often so generous with people of color caught with a small amount of drugs on them or who spray paint on buildings in protest of mass injustice.
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U.S. District Court Judge Tanya Chutkan, however, is being credited with sending a message by handing out a harsher sentence than the one recommended by prosecutors with Matthew Mazzocco, who also pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor charge. The Justice Department asked only for three months of home confinement for the crime of “parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building” but rejected the idea that she should go easy on him or any of the rioters, fearing that slaps on the wrist will not be a deterrent to the behavior.
“Because the country is watching to see what the consequences are for something that has not ever happened in this country before, for actions and crimes that undermine the rule of law and our democracy,” she said.
“There have to be consequences for participating in an attempted violent overthrow of the government, beyond sitting at home.”
She sentenced Mazzocco to 45 days in jail and 60 hours of community service, plus a $500 fine. This action has many wondering what she will have in store for Palmer. It’s no secret what a good deal of people who prefer not to have their legitimate democratic elections violently overthrow would like to see happen.
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*First Published: October 6, 2021, 10:36 am
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