“Like a green traffic light”: First Capitol intruder jailed for years

“Like a green traffic light signal”
The first capital infiltrator was imprisoned for several years

August 28, 2024, 12:51 am

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In January 2021, a large number of supporters of former President Donald Trump marched in front of the Capitol. Kentucky native Michael Sparks was the first to enter the Congressional building — and, according to a police official, is encouraging many others to do so. The court has now condemned him for this.

A 46-year-old man who first entered the Congress building when Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol in January 2021 has been sentenced to nearly four and a half years in prison. A judge in Washington sentenced the defendant, Michael Sparks, of Kentucky, to 53 months in prison and a $2,000 (about 1,800 euro) fine.

On January 6, 2021, rabid supporters of US President-elect Donald Trump stormed the Capitol after Trump’s inflammatory speech as they gathered at the Congressional building in Washington. They wanted to prevent Joe Biden’s victory in the presidential election from being formally certified there. At least five people died and 140 police officers were injured in the capital storm. These events are considered a black day in the history of American democracy.

Trump has fired up supporters

Trump has spent weeks spreading false claims that massive election fraud cost him a second term. Just before storming the Capitol, the right-wing populist called on supporters in a speech to march on the Capitol and fight “whatever the hell.”

Now convicted, Sparks was found guilty in March of resisting state authority and breach of peace. According to investigators, he was the first Trump supporter to enter the Congressional building on January 6, 2001. A police officer told an inquest in Washington that the sparks “acted like a green light” to the demonstrators who followed him.

A total of 1,500 people were charged for their involvement in the storming of the capital. Former President Trump was indicted on four counts for his role in the events of January 6, 2021. But the case is unlikely to come up for trial before the November presidential election. Trump is running again on behalf of the Republican Party.