Former law enforcement officer involved in Capitol riot gets a decrease in prison term

Former Virginia police officer, Thomas Robertson, who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol, has received a reduced prison sentence of six years, thanks to a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling. Initially, Robertson was handed a sentence of seven years and three months for his involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. However, prosecutors pushed for the original sentence to be upheld, but U.S. District Judge Christopher Cooper opted for a shorter term after dismissing Robertson’s conviction for obstructing the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral win.

Robertson is among the first Capitol riot defendants to benefit from the Supreme Court’s June ruling, which narrowed the government’s use of a federal obstruction law. The ruling specified that a charge of obstructing an official proceeding must demonstrate evidence of tampering with or destruction of documents, a requirement that does not apply to many cases linked to the January 6 events.

During the resentencing hearing, Robertson expressed remorse and acknowledged his wrong actions on that day. He was convicted on all six counts, which included charges of interfering with police officers during a civil disorder and entering a restricted area carrying a dangerous weapon – a large wooden stick.

Robertson, accompanied by another off-duty police officer and a neighbor, traveled to Washington on the day of the riot. His colleague, Jacob Fracker, who pleaded guilty to a conspiracy charge and cooperated with authorities, received probation and two months of home detention in 2022.

The court learned that Robertson had expressed extremist views on social media both before and after the riot, promoting baseless conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election. Prosecutors highlighted how Robertson utilized his law enforcement and military background to impede officers trying to control the mob. Defense attorney Mark Rollins recognized Robertson’s poor decisions but asserted that he had no intention of undermining democracy during the events of January 6.

Following the riot, both Robertson and Fracker were dismissed from their positions at the Rocky Mount Police Department in Virginia. The town, with a population of around 5,000 residents, is situated approximately 25 miles south of Roanoke.