Capitol Reuters Paul Hodgkins sentenced to 8 months in prison: NPR

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In this photo from Capitol Police video, Paul Hodgkins of Tampa, Florida, stands in the well on the floor of the US Senate on Jan. 6. On Monday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison. US Capitol Police via AP Hide Caption

US Capitol Police caption switches via AP

In this photo from Capitol Police video, Paul Hodgkins of Tampa, Florida, stands in the well on the floor of the US Senate on Jan. 6. On Monday, he was sentenced to eight months in prison.

US Capitol Police via AP

A Florida crane operator who walked to the Senate floor during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol has been sentenced to eight months federal prison and two years probation.

The ruling by Paul Hodgkins marks the first determination of a felony case arising from a fatal attack on the Capitol by a mob of Trump supporters. It is seen as a potential blueprint for how to treat other defendants on the Capitol accused of similar crimes.

Hodgkins last month pleaded guilty to one count of obstruction of official action. On January 6, he walked from then-President Trump’s rally near the White House to the US Capitol, walking in and on the Senate floor while carrying the red “Trump 2020” flag.

In court on Monday, Hodgkins, who was dressed in a black suit and had his hair pulled back into a ponytail, said he “really and truly regrets” his actions on January 6.

“I say this not because I’m facing the consequences, but because of the damage that day’s incident caused, the way I hurt this country that I love,” he told U.S. District Judge Randolph Moss.

Hodgkins said he traveled to Washington, D.C. from Florida to support Trump, and had no idea the crowd would later storm the Capitol. He said he fell in love today and walked into the Capitol and walked up to the Senate floor.

“This was a foolish decision on my part and I take full responsibility,” Hodkins said. “I do not and will not make any excuse.”

In the case of Hodgkins, the range of sentencing guidelines was calculated at 15-21 months. Hodgkins’ attorney, Patrick Leduc, asked the court not to imprison him. In contrast, the Department of Justice recommended 18 months, in part to send a strong deterrent signal to anyone considering a future attack on the country’s democratic institutions.

In the end, Judge Moss sentenced Hodgkins to eight months in prison and two years on probation.

“It is essential to send a message that this kind of behavior is totally unacceptable and that tremendous damage was done to our country that day,” Moss said. “But at the same time, I don’t think Mr. Hodgkins, other than making some very poor decisions that day…that he is a threat.”

Moss noted that Hodgkins previously had no criminal record. He did not engage in violence on January 6 or destroy property, and he remained on the Capitol for less than 30 minutes. But Moss explained that his presence in the Capitol contributed to the gang’s ability to achieve its goal of disrupting the ratification of the 2020 presidential election.

“Although Mr. Hodgkins was only one member of a larger crowd, he actively and intentionally participated in an event that threatened not only the security of the Capitol, but democracy itself,” Moss said.

“Because of the actions of Mr. Hodgkins and others that day, members of the United States Congress were forced to flee their rooms,” he added. “I think it pays to take a moment to think about it – it is an exceptional event under any circumstances in which members of the US Congress are forced to flee the building out of fear for their physical safety.”

Moss said the damage caused by the rioters “will continue in this country for several decades.” It will make it difficult for the government to promote democracy abroad, he said, and it will be difficult to convince young Americans that democracy is the foundation of this nation.

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