Jan. 6 rioter calls Trump-appointed judge ex-president's 'worst mistake' after sentencing
A convicted Capitol rioter sounded off against the Trump-appointed judge who sentenced him to 12 years in federal prison.
"You're Trump's worst mistake of 2016," Christopher Quaglin lobbed at Judge Trevor McFadden after the lengthy penalty was imposed.
McFadden was appointed by former President Donald Trump in 2017.
The convicted 38-year-old also blamed the characterization of Jan. 6, 2021, as an insurrection.
“If I wanted to bring an insurrection, I would have brought a long gun,” he said.
Quaglin was pinpointed in various still photos from the siege on the Capitol in an effort to thwart Congress from certification of the 2020 election results, with his face covered in a gas mask and clad in a Stars and Stripes-themed sweatshirt with the phrase: "MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN".
The event started as a "Stop the Steal" protest and erupted into a riot.
He was blamed for choking and tacking a police officer to the ground. Quaglin also clashed with other officers using commandeered police riot shields, metal bike racks, and pepper spray.
The sentencing was less than the 14 years prosecutors sought.
Federal prosecutors maintain that Quaglin's behavior was belligerent and vicious where he struck or shoved another dozen officers.
"Quaglin understood the constitutional significance of January 6, and intended to disrupt Congress’ certification of the 2020 election by any means necessary, including by viciously assaulting police officers for hours," according to the complaint.
It continued: "On at least a dozen occasions, Quaglin stood face-to-face with officers as he screamed at, pushed with outstretched arms, punched, swatted, and slapped officers; pushed bike racks into officers; and even choked one officer to the ground."
Quaglin delivered a winded response, taking aim at the judge.
“It’s a kangaroo court,” Quaglin said.
"You were anything but peaceful on that day," McFadden scolded him. "You're a menace to our society."
As of January this year, the Justice department counted over 1,200 people had been charged in connection with the Capitol attack in crimes varying from trespassing, a misdemeanor, to seditious conspiracy.
Nearly 200 of them have been convicted at trial.