The former Florida Army veteran, found guilty of sedition and additional grave felonies, was implicated in orchestrating the extremist group’s actions at the Capitol and coordinating with the first individual to break police barriers on that fateful day, as per a recent report from KFOR.
During the court hearing, a visibly emotional Biggs, dressed in an orange prison outfit, said, “While I regret my actions on that day, I’m not a terrorist.” He lamented the prevalent political polarization and voiced his dream of being a present father in his daughter’s life.
However, U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly saw the matter differently, enhancing Biggs’s punishment for his role in the breach. Though shorter than the 33-year sentence the prosecution had vied for, the 17-year verdict underscores the gravity of his deeds.
Prosecutors underscored Biggs’s discourse before and after the assault, pointing to his advocacy for aggression and peddling false election fraud narratives. These factors, they argued, fueled his and fellow Proud Boys in the Capitol aggression.
Intriguingly, both Biggs and co-defendant Zachary Rehl shifted the blame to ex-President Donald Trump for their participation. They reasoned that while Trump’s influence didn’t absolve them, it should lighten their responsibility.
Their defense argued that Trump’s rhetoric played a monumental role in the January 6 events. Enrique Tarrio, the Proud Boys chief, even asserted that Trump’s influence was the sole catalyst for the Capitol debacle.
Adding to the complexity, Trump is presently embroiled in two criminal cases linked to his conduct post the 2020 election, with one case accusing him of conspiracy leading to the Capitol chaos.
These ongoing trials highlight the lasting implications of the Capitol event in both political and judiciary arenas.