Aaron Mostofsky, who rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and is also the son of a New York judge, last month pleaded for leniency when faced with a sentence within the range of 10-16 months that ultimately was settled at 8 months in prison, according to Politico’s Kyle Cheney.

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According to reports, the federal judge presiding over Mostofsky’s case believed that he was remorseful and that his actions on Jan. 6 were “out of character,” as Mostofsky was dressed as a caveman and was one of the first rioters to breach Capitol security that day.

U.S. District Judge James Boasberg explained during sentencing:

“What’s critical for you to understand, and for the public to understand, is that without conduct like yours, without people on the front lines pushing, the barricades wouldn’t have fallen, the Capitol would not have been overrun, people would not have been killed, and others would not have suffered serious physical and mental injuries.”

Trump Supporters storm the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021 via Flickr / Tyler Merbler https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

Boasberg added that he did not fully understand how Mostofsky was sucked “down this hole of a stolen-election fantasy,” and added that “I hope you’ll leave some of the fantasy world behind at this point because I hope you understand your indulgence in that fantasy led to this tragic situation — tragic for the country as to what happened that day, and tragic for you and what you did … and the effect it will have on your life.”

Mostofsky is the son of Steven Mostofsky, a state court judge in Brooklyn, and said that a friend his costume was meant to announce that even a “cave man” would know the 2020 presidential election was stolen.

When he addressed the court, Mostofsky begged for mercy, explaining that he believed he had made a series of “bad decisions that day,” after witnessing police using crowd-dispersal tactics like tear gas, pepper spray, rubber bullets and stun grenades.

January 6 Capitol Riots via Flickr / Tyler Merbler https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/

He concluded “I should have walked away, but I walked toward the barriers. I pushed back, I should not have done that.”

Judge Boasberg concluded about the Jan. 6 riots:

“We’re reminded by events in Europe today that if our republic enshrines violence-not the ballot-as an appropriate way to maintain power and govern others then who are we to complain when other people follow that example and attempt to impose their will by military might?

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Christopher Powell