Overview

• A Republican-appointed judge plans to send a written response to supporters of a Jan. 6 rioter, warning against the normalization of political violence.
• The judge sentenced Taylor James Johnatakis to over seven years in prison for leading an attack on police during the Capitol riot.
• The sentencing reflects a broader judicial concern over increasing public acceptance of the Jan. 6 events, fueled by former President Trump's rhetoric.
• Judges across the federal judiciary have been vocal about the dangers of rewriting the history of Jan. 6 and the threat it poses to democracy.
• The judge's action is part of an ongoing effort to educate the public on the severe consequences of political violence and the importance of upholding the rule of law.