A conservative activist’s son has been sentenced to almost four years in prison for his “relentless” attack on the U.S. Capitol. Prosecutors stated that he smashed a window, pursued a police officer, and stormed the Senate floor.
Leo Brent Bozell IV, a 44-year-old resident of Palmyra, Pennsylvania, played a significant role in the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He was among the initial wave of rioters to breach the Capitol building and was one of the first individuals to make his way onto the Senate floor.
The Media Research Center, the Parents Television Council, and other conservative media organizations were established by Bozell’s father, L. Brent Bozell III.
Apologizing to two Capitol police officers seated in the courtroom gallery, the younger Bozell expressed his remorse before U.S. District Judge John Bates delivered his sentence of three years and nine months in prison. In addition, he acknowledged the lasting impact his actions have had on his family, stating that he has “forever tarnished” their reputation.
“I don’t recognize the person in the videos,” he admitted. “I have no idea what I was thinking at the time.”
According to Bates, storming the Capitol was not an impulsive action for Bozell. He had premeditated his visit to the Capitol on January 6th and was expecting violence on that day, as pointed out by the judge.
The judge firmly stated that there were ample opportunities for the individual to cease their actions.
Prosecutors have suggested a prison term of 11 years and eight months for Bozell. According to them, Bozell actively participated in “relentless and sustained attacks” on law enforcement. He was involved in breaching police lines at multiple locations both inside and outside the Capitol, either leading or joining other rioters.
According to prosecutors, Bozell was one of the few rioters on January 6 who played a significant role in multiple breaches.
Bozell was granted the opportunity to remain free until he is required to report to prison, though the exact date has yet to be determined. Upon hearing his sentence, Bozell expressed gratitude towards the judge.
In February 2021, Bozell faced arrest after being identified by an FBI tipster. The tipster recognized Bozell, in part, because he was wearing a sweatshirt from the “Hershey Christian Academy” on January 6.
In a trial without a jury, Bates listened to testimonies and reached a verdict, convicting Bozell on 10 counts. These charges included the obstruction of the joint session of Congress on January 6th, which was responsible for certifying President Joe Biden’s electoral victory in 2020.
After the conclusion of the “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on January 6th, Bozell proceeded to the Capitol where he actively participated in a mob that forcefully breached a police line.
Bozell shattered the windowpane of the Senate Wing Door using a metal object. Following this, he climbed through the broken window and joined other rioters in pursuing Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman up a staircase. This led them to an area where they were confronted by additional officers.
Bozell walked into the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and exited with an unknown item. Afterwards, he proceeded to the Senate gallery, where he deliberately repositioned a C-SPAN camera to face downwards, preventing it from capturing the chaos unfolding as rioters ravaged the chamber. Additionally, he spent a considerable amount of time on the Senate floor.
According to prosecutors, Bozell managed to navigate his way through the Capitol for almost an hour. He successfully made his way through multiple areas of the building and crossed at least seven police lines before being escorted out by law enforcement.
The prosecutors had pushed for a “terrorism enhancement” that would greatly increase the suggested prison sentence for Bozell. However, the judge decided not to apply the enhancement, stating that it didn’t seem appropriate in this particular case.
According to defense attorney Eric Snyder, it is unfair to label Bozell as a terrorist.
Snyder expressed the belief that even good individuals are capable of making poor choices. In this case, he emphasized that the person in question, despite being inherently good, committed a grave mistake.
In a letter submitted to the court, Bozell’s father expressed his unwavering support for his son while also raising doubts about the prosecution’s motives for pursuing a terrorism enhancement.
“I refrained from speaking out for the past 3 1/2 years as I didn’t want to disrupt the course of justice,” he expressed. “However, after witnessing the trial and, more significantly, becoming aware of this terrorism enhancement, I can no longer remain silent. I strongly believe that there are other factors involved in this matter.”
More than 1,350 individuals have faced federal charges in connection with the Capitol riot, with over 850 of them already receiving sentencing. Among those sentenced, around two-thirds have been handed prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years.
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