Feds to seek longest prison sentence in ANY Capitol riot case so far.
24 years prison & $71,000+ fine for Pete Schwartz of Pennsylvania, accusing him of series of violent Jan 6 acts & calling him "felon who has racked up numerous convictions for drugs, weapons &violence".
Justice Dept argues Schwartz "stole chemical munitions, including pepper spray.. left behind by the fleeing officers and used that pepper spray as a weapon to attack those same officers as they desperately tried to escape".
According to Justice Dept sentencing memo, Schwartz assaulted group of police officers.. then "Schwartz did not back down. He then joined the larger mob inside of the tunnel in attempting to push through the police line and into the Capitol Building".
By Schwartz’s own admission, he viewed himself as being at “war” that day, stating in a Facebook post on January 7, 2021, “What happened yesterday was the opening of a war. I was there and whether people will acknowledge it or not we are now at war.”
Schwartz, in his defense's request for leniency, recommends 54 months prison. His defense memo says, "There remain many grifters out there who remain free to continue propagating the “great lie” that Trump won the election, Donald Trump being among the most prominent".
Schwartz's defense argues: "His actions were motivated by a misunderstanding as to the facts surrounding the 2020 election. Indeed, Mr. Schwartz knew next to nothing about the 2020 election and listened to sources of information that were clearly false".
Sentencing is set for May 5, in front of federal judge Amit Mehta in US District Court for the District of Columbia.
