Federal prosecutors have recommended that Ray Epps, a central figure in the January 6 Capitol breach, be sentenced to six months in prison and one year of supervised release for his role in encouraging and participating in the riots. Epps, a former Marine and ex-Oath Keeper who questioned the legitimacy of the 2020 election, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of disorderly or disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. He is set to be sentenced next Tuesday.
Court filings detailed how Epps exhorted people to march on the Capitol and later joined the mob of rioters as they stormed through barricades onto restricted grounds in the West Plaza.
Prosecutors argued that even if Epps did not physically touch law enforcement officers or enter the building, he undoubtedly engaged in collective aggressive behavior and participated in a group push against a “Trump” sign, which was used to attack law enforcement.
Prosecutors acknowledged that Epps had taken responsibility for his crime, and had cooperated with the FBI and Congress. However, they argued that a sentence of six months in prison was necessary to protect the community, promote respect for the law, and deter future crimes by imposing restrictions on Epps’ behavior.
Epps’ central role in the events of January 6 has been the subject of speculation, with some suggesting that he may have been a federal informant. However, prosecutors did not address this issue in their court filing.
