On a fateful day in January 2021, as the nation watched in disbelief, the U.S. Capitol was besieged by a crowd intent on disrupting the certification of the presidential election results. Among the rioters was John Earle Sullivan, a 29-year-old Utah man whose actions have now culminated in a six-year prison sentence.
Sullivan’s participation in the riots was multifaceted: He donned a ballistic vest and a gas mask, wielded a bullhorn, and brandished a knife as he joined the ranks storming the Capitol. Officials said that Sullivan filmed the crowds trying to break down the doors to the House Chamber and then at the Speaker’s Lobby. He had reportedly entered the Capitol through a smashed window next to the broken Senate Wing door.
The gravity of Sullivan’s offenses was paid a sizable sum—$90,875—for his footage before his conviction. Prosecutors said Sullivan was a self-described activist. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebekah Lederer and Michael Barclay said Sullivan “shared a desire to see the government burn.”
A jury found him guilty of multiple offenses: felonies for obstructing an official proceeding and possession of a dangerous weapon on Capitol grounds, alongside misdemeanors for disorderly conduct and parading in a Capitol building.
Contrasting the government’s portrayal, defense attorney Steven Kiersh highlighted Sullivan’s background, including his adoption by a retired Army lieutenant colonel, his aspirations as an Olympic speed skater, and the caring life he led before the events of January 6. Kiersh advocated for a more lenient 30-month sentence, citing Sullivan’s consequent protective custody in virtual isolation at the D.C. jail due to safety concerns stemming from his political views. Nevertheless, he was sentenced to 72 months in prison, 36 months of supervised release, and ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
Sullivan’s sentence comes as part of a broader reckoning for the January 6 insurrection, with over 1,385 individuals charged in connection to the breach of the Capitol. Nearly 500 have been accused of assaulting or impeding law enforcement and 130 of whom were armed or caused injury.
Relevant articles:
– Utah man who recorded fatal Jan. 6 Capitol shooting sentenced to 6 years, The Washington Post, 04/28/2024
– Utah man sentenced to 6 years in prison for Jan. 6 breach on U.S. Capitol, ABC4.com, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 15:43:05 GMT
– Jan. 6 rioter who filmed Ashli Babbitt shooting sentenced to 6 years in prison, The Hill, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:33:00 GMT
– Utah man sentenced to 72 months in prison for role in Jan. 6 insurrection, Gephardt Daily, Sat, 27 Apr 2024 05:29:00 GMT