New Jersey man pleads guilty to assaulting US Capitol officer on January 6

A New Jersey man on Friday pleaded guilty to two federal counts of assaulting law enforcement and obstructing formal proceedings in the Jan.6 assault on Capitol Hill.

Scott Fairlamb is the first rioter accused of assaulting law enforcement to plead guilty.

Prosecutors say he was seen in videos tracking down a line of officers outside the Capitol before hitting one in the head.

Obstruction of formal proceedings carries a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison and the law enforcement court for assault carries a maximum penalty of 8 years.

Prosecutors said they were seeking a sentence ranging from 41 to 51 months in prison and said Fairlamb should pay restitution of $ 2,000.

Fairlamb will probably be arguing behind bars for less time.

Judgment notes from both sides are due on September 20, and Fairlamb is due to appear in court again on September 27.

“Are you an American? Act like one! Fairlamb, a gym owner and MMA veteran, is heard screaming in a body camera video, which has been released to ABC and 13 other media outlets as part of the ongoing legal effort. “You have no idea what the hell you are doing.”

Prosecutors also reported on videos Fairlamb posted to his Facebook during the riot where they say he saw him holding a folding baton and saying to the camera, “What are the Patriots doing? ‘assault the f ** * on the Capitol! “

Fairlamb had previously held a pandemic protest at his Pompton Lakes gymnasium in response to COVID restrictions and last summer he posted a threatening message on Instagram targeting Representative Cori Bush.

While Fairlamb’s attorney said the government is seeking a 51-month sentence for their client, it’s unclear what DC District Judge Royce Lamberth will decide as an appropriate punishment – although it may serve. of reference for the more than 150 rioters so far indicted. with police attack.

Of the more than 30 rioters who have pleaded guilty so far in the Justice Department’s sprawling investigation into the Capitol attack, only six have been convicted and none of them to a substantial prison term.

Florida man Paul Hodgkins was recently sentenced to eight months in jail after pleading guilty to felony of obstructing congressional proceedings, and two others who had previously been held by the government pending of their trial were sentenced to prison.

More than 500 people were indicted by the Justice Department for their actions on January 6.