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The attack on the US Capitol resulted in numerous violent clashes between rioters and police officers (archive image)
Photo: Jose Luis Magana / AP
In the trial of those involved in the attack on the US Capitol on January 6, the first defendant pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer.
New Jersey gym owner Scott Fairlamb admitted in court that he harassed and stood in their way of police officers.
Fairlamb, a former martial artist, was among the first to break into the Capitol building after other rioters smashed windows and kicked a door. The clash with the police occurred when he was leaving the building. On a video you can see him armed with a baton and shouting the following words: “What are patriots doing? We'll disarm them and storm the bloody Capitol! ”. He has been in custody since January 22nd.
The 44-year-old is charged with a total of 12 crimes, including civil unrest, attacking a police officer and exercising physical violence when entering prohibited areas.
His sentence could serve as a guideline for further convictions.
According to Fairlamb's attorney, prosecutors are suggesting three and a half to four and a half years in prison.
Only two weeks earlier, a group of police officers involved in the operation had testified in court about the confrontations with the breaking-in mob.
Five of the police officers involved in the operation have now died, four of them by suicide.
According to the Justice Department, around 140 police officers were attacked by the rioters that day.
Supporters of Trump stormed the seat of the US Congress in Washington on January 6th.
The then still incumbent president had to face impeachment proceedings because of the attack because he had previously incited his supporters in a speech.
At the end of the trial, the Republicans held a majority in the Senate to prevent their president from being found guilty.
nek / AP
