Pro-Trump social media influencer Brandon Straka sentenced to home confinement for his part in Capitol riot
‘Walk Away’ movement founder Brandon Straka is spending the next three months on house arrest
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A pro-Trump social media influencer who stormed the Capitol and encouraged rioters to strip a police officer of his riot shield will spend the next three months on home confinement and three years on probation after a federal judge passed sentence on him Monday.
Judge Dabney Friedrich imposed the home confinement and probation sentence on Brandon Straka – along with a $5,000 fine — after prosecutors asked her to sentence him to four months of house arrest.
In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said it was “important to convey to future potential rioters — especially those who intend to improperly influence the democratic process — that their actions will have consequences”.
But the government also credited Straka with cooperating in their investigation, and said their recommendation of a house arrest sentence was because the Justice Department had “given considerable weight to Straka’s early willingness to agree to be interviewed by law enforcement and acknowledge his wrongdoing”.
“Straka’s primary occupation is as an influencer. Having embraced that vocation, he must be cognisant of his power to influence others … as a public figure who continues to have a large social media following, Straka has a responsibility to ensure that his rhetorical flourishes do not endanger others,” they wrote.
“Straka cheered the crowd that breached the U.S Capitol; he celebrated the breach by posting video to Twitter; he encouraged rioters to take a police officer’s shield by chanting ‘Take the shield’ and ‘USA’ after the shield was taken”.
In his own court filings, Straka’s attorney Bilal Essayli wrote that the government was “apparently attempting to make a public example of a prominent Trump-supporting influencer”, and alleged that the Justice Department’s pursuit of his client was part of a push to establish “an organized conspiracy” between Straka, former President Donald Trump and his allies.
Straka “denied the existence of any such plot,” Mr Essayli added.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments