A devoted St. Louis Cardinals supporter known as Rally Runner has been sentenced to 10 months in prison for participating in the storming of the U.S. Capitol. Rally Runner, formerly known as Daniel Donnelly Jr., gained attention for wearing his signature running outfit while invading the Capitol on January 6, 2021. This act linked him to unfounded theories suggesting that undercover instigators encouraged the riot by supporters of ex-President Donald Trump. The incidents were highlighted on a segment of Tucker Carlson’s now-defunct Fox News show in December 2021.
Rally Runner, 44, was apprehended in August 2023 for reportedly using a stolen shield to assist fellow rioters in attacking law enforcement officers during the Capitol breach. In March, he confessed to a felony charge of civil disorder. Along with the prison term, U.S. District Judge Jia Cobb ordered Rally Runner to pay $3,000 in fines and restitution.
His attorney, Scott Rosenblum, expressed Rally Runner’s relief at closing this chapter and aiming to grow and give back to society. In a letter submitted to the judge by his mother, she painted Rally Runner as a nonviolent individual who went to the Capitol to show support for Trump, akin to how he supported the Cardinals, but the protest turned into a violent uproar.
During the riot, Rally Runner wore red facial paint, a red jacket, and a red “Keep America Great” cap. A regular sight at Cardinals games in St. Louis, he gained popularity for jogging around the stadium in red attire and face paint. FBI footage showed Rally Runner in a mob that clashed with law enforcement using shields taken from officers. He also appeared in a Facebook video on the day of the incident, wearing his Trump hat, describing his actions during the breach.
Since the Capitol riot, more than 1,400 individuals have faced federal charges related to the event. Of these, over 900 have been convicted and sentenced, with around two-thirds receiving penalties ranging from several days to 22 years in prison.