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A federal judge on Thursday sentenced Simone Gold, founder of the anti-vaccine group America’s Frontline Doctors, to 60 days in prison for infiltrating the US Capitol during the January 6, 2021 attack, $ 430,000 for her and her organization.
U.S. District Judge Christopher R. Cooper said Gold, who pleaded guilty in March, failed to show remorse or take responsibility for her actions during the riot. He noted that she claimed in an interview with The Washington Post that “where I was, it was incredibly calm” when the video showed that an emergency doctor and a trained lawyer at Stanford did nothing because the crowd, with which she was, dragged a policeman to the ground. .
The judge also called “a disservice to the real victims of the day” that Gold had given her supporters the “wrong impression” that she had been politically persecuted for speaking, and raised $ 430,000 for her personal and organizational expenses.
“January 6 was for many things, but it wasn’t for the First Amendment, and it certainly wasn’t for COVID treatment or vaccines,” Cooper said.
“I find it indecent for your organization to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for its operations, including your salary,” he later added, saying Gold generated the money by “misrepresenting what this procedure is.”
“People need to know that this is not acceptable,” the judge said. “That’s not the purpose of this process.”
Simon Gold, a well-known defender of hydroxychloroquine, was at the Capitol on January 6
In a trembling voice, Gold told the judge she was “shocked” that prosecutors believed she did not repent and did not intend to participate in “a situation that is so devastating to our nation.”
“I was mistaken. I shouldn’t have come in, “Gold said.” Everything I did on January 6, wrong or not, was in line with my efforts to do my best for the people. “
Untouched, the judge noted that he had heard more talk about how the case had restricted Gold’s travel than about those affected by the riot.
“I’ve heard a lot about how you can’t fly,” Cooper said, “but I haven’t heard anything about the five people who died. The four people who committed suicide after that. Or the employees ”and others locked in fear for their safety.
Golden Lawyer Dixon J. Young demanded a conviction for community medical work, saying his client had not committed or incited violence.
“Except for seeing the broken window and seeing the officer taken down by a man other than her in the eastern part of the Capitol, she just walked in the door,” Young said.
Young tried to distance himself from Gold’s fundraising. He said her court costs were not close to the $ 430,000 she had collected for her alleged legal protection and that she had paid out of pocket. Her fundraising application said the unused money would go to her organization.
The crime for which Gold pleaded guilty is punishable by up to one year in prison, although federal sentencing guidelines provide for zero to six months.
About 70 of the 175 people convicted of crimes during the January 6 riot were sentenced to prison; the average time is about 44 days.
Prosecutors April Ayers-Perez and Jason M. Manning asked Cooper to sentence Gold to 90 days in prison, and the court office – rarely – recommended six months. Both said Gold’s behavior was extreme for Capitol violators she helped lead and promote the chaos of the day, ignored police departure commands, and gave exit speeches.
“The defendant has not shown remorse. “She has not taken responsibility for her behavior … which has remained consistent over time,” Ayers-Perez said. “She continues to minimize and reduce her responsibility and criminal behavior all the time.”
The uprising on January 6
The House Election Commission, which is investigating the uprising of January 6, 2021, is holding its third high-profile hearing this month. Find the latest here.
Hearings in Congress: A House of Representatives commission investigating the attack on the US Capitol has conducted more than 1,000 interviews in the past year. He will share his findings in a series of hearings starting on June 9th. Here is what we know about the hearings and how to watch them.
the riot: On January 6, 2021, a pro-Trump mob stormed the US Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the 2020 election results. Five people died that day or immediately afterwards, and 140 police officers were attacked.
Inside the siege: During the riot, the rebels approached dangerously into the inner sanctuaries of the building while lawmakers were still there, including former Vice President Mike Pence. The Washington Post researched text messages, photos and videos to create a video history of what happened on January 6.
Charges: Proud Boys leader Enrique Tario and four lieutenants have been charged with rebellion, joining Oathkeepers leader Stuart Rhodes and about two dozen associates to be accused of involvement in the Capitol attack. They are just some of the hundreds who have been indicted, many of whom received sentences significantly lighter than the government demanded.
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