2021 United States Capitol riotCaliforniaCapitol siegeDistrict of ColumbiaGeneral NewsRiotsWashington news A Jan. 6 rioter praised Vivek Ramaswamy at his sentencing for suggesting riot was an ‘inside job’ by Sophia Chen December 8, 2023 written by Sophia Chen December 8, 2023 0 comments Bookmark 58 At the sentencing hearing of Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief convicted of conspiracy in connection to the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021, he delivered a speech that garnered attention. Hostetter, who received a prison sentence exceeding 11 years, used this opportunity to praise Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy. Ramaswamy had previously suggested that the Capitol attack might have been an “inside job.” During his speech, Hostetter, who prosecutors claimed had a hatchet in his backpack on the fateful day, propagated conspiracy theories. He falsely asserted that the 2020 election had been stolen from former President Donald Trump and referred to the riot as a “false flag” operation. Notably, only eight other defendants from the January 6 events have received longer sentences than Hostetter, making his term the third-longest among those not charged with seditious conspiracy. Ramaswamy, a biotech entrepreneur making his first foray into politics, has garnered attention within the GOP for his rapid and wide-ranging speeches. In a recent GOP debate, he embraced a conspiracy theory suggesting that federal agents may have been involved in the January 6 events, a notion widely embraced by far-right circles claiming that Trump supporters were framed. However, FBI Director Christopher Wray has categorically dismissed these claims as baseless. Hostetter’s mention of Ramaswamy during his sentencing implied that such ideas were no longer confined to fringe theories. Nevertheless, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth emphasized that Hostetter’s conviction was not about his beliefs but about his involvement in the riot that disrupted Congress as they were certifying the 2020 election results. The judge handed down a 135-month sentence, which closely aligned with the more than 12 years prosecutors had sought. Prosecutor Anthony Mariano emphasized Hostetter’s actions before and during January 6, citing his statements about instilling fear in members of Congress and the weapons he had brought to Washington. Hostetter was convicted in July on multiple counts, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted area with a deadly weapon. Hostetter, who had previously served as a police chief in California and later turned to yoga instruction, founded a nonprofit called the American Phoenix Project in 2020. This tax-exempt organization was used to oppose COVID-19 restrictions and advocate for violence against political opponents after the 2020 presidential election. Hostetter was arrested in June 2021 along with five other individuals, some of whom were linked to the Three Percenters wing of the militia movement. It’s worth noting that Hostetter denied any association with the Three Percenters and accused prosecutors of misrepresenting him as a radical terrorist. In the broader context, the Capitol riot has led to charges against approximately 1,200 individuals. Roughly 900 of them have either pleaded guilty or been convicted through trials, with over 700 having received sentences, the majority of which range from three days to 22 years in prison. Table of Contents Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Capitol Riot SentencingQ: Who is Alan Hostetter, and why was he sentenced to over 11 years?Q: What did Alan Hostetter say during his sentencing?Q: How does Alan Hostetter’s sentence compare to others involved in the Capitol riot?Q: Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, and what conspiracy theory did he promote?Q: What were the charges against Alan Hostetter, and what evidence was presented?Q: What is the American Phoenix Project, and how was it connected to Alan Hostetter?Q: How many individuals have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot, and how many have been sentenced?More about Capitol Riot Sentencing Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Capitol Riot Sentencing Q: Who is Alan Hostetter, and why was he sentenced to over 11 years? A: Alan Hostetter is a former California police chief who was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison for his involvement in the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. He was convicted of conspiracy and other charges related to his participation in the riot. Q: What did Alan Hostetter say during his sentencing? A: During his sentencing, Alan Hostetter delivered a speech in which he praised Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy for suggesting that the Capitol attack might have been an “inside job.” Hostetter also propagated conspiracy theories, falsely claiming that the 2020 election was stolen and referring to the riot as a “false flag” operation. Q: How does Alan Hostetter’s sentence compare to others involved in the Capitol riot? A: Alan Hostetter’s sentence of over 11 years is among the longest handed down to defendants not charged with seditious conspiracy in connection to the January 6 events. Only eight other defendants have received longer terms so far. Q: Who is Vivek Ramaswamy, and what conspiracy theory did he promote? A: Vivek Ramaswamy is a biotech entrepreneur who ran as a Republican presidential candidate. During a GOP debate, he promoted a conspiracy theory suggesting that federal agents might have been involved in the January 6 attack, a theory embraced by some on the far right who claimed that Trump supporters were framed. However, there is no evidence to support these claims. Q: What were the charges against Alan Hostetter, and what evidence was presented? A: Alan Hostetter was convicted on several counts, including conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and entering a restricted area with a deadly weapon. The prosecution presented evidence, including statements Hostetter made before January 6, his possession of weapons, and his actions during the riot. Q: What is the American Phoenix Project, and how was it connected to Alan Hostetter? A: The American Phoenix Project is a nonprofit organization founded by Alan Hostetter in 2020. It was used to oppose COVID-19 restrictions and advocate for violence against political opponents after the 2020 presidential election. Hostetter’s involvement with this organization played a role in his legal case. Q: How many individuals have been charged in connection to the Capitol riot, and how many have been sentenced? A: Approximately 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot. Of those, around 900 have either pleaded guilty or been convicted through trials. Over 700 individuals have received sentences, with the majority receiving prison terms ranging from three days to 22 years. More about Capitol Riot Sentencing Former California police chief sentenced Vivek Ramaswamy’s conspiracy theory U.S. Capitol riot sentencing American Phoenix Project and Alan Hostetter FBI Director Christopher Wray’s statement Overview of Capitol riot-related charges and sentences You Might Be Interested In Fireworks Blast Claims Life of Woman and Injures Nine Others in Western Michigan The Supreme Court Examines Trademark Rights in the ‘Trump too small’ Case The Las Vegas Aces Secure Consecutive WNBA Titles for the First Time in Over Two Decades, Defeating the New York Liberty 70-69 in Game 4 Global journalist group says Israel-Hamas conflict is a war beyond compare for media deaths Electric Vehicle Owners and Solar Rooftops: A Growing Symbiosis Mike Nussbaum, prolific Chicago stage actor with film roles including ‘Field of Dreams,’ dies at 99 2021 United States Capitol riotAlan HostetterCaliforniaCapitol riotCapitol siegeconspiracy theoryDistrict of ColumbiaGeneral NewsJan 6RiotsSentencingU.S. CapitolVivek Ramaswamy. Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail Sophia Chen Follow Author Sophia Chen is a lifestyle journalist who covers the latest trends and developments in the world of fashion, beauty, and lifestyle. She enjoys exploring new fashion and beauty trends, and she is always on the lookout for new products and experiences to share with her readers. previous post Wyoming may auction off huge piece of pristine land inside Grand Teton next post Republicans threaten contempt proceedings if Hunter Biden refuses to appear for deposition You may also like Bookmark A woman who burned Wyoming’s only full-service abortion... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Argument over Christmas gifts turns deadly as 14-year-old... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Danny Masterson sent to state prison to serve... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Hong Kong man jailed for 6 years after... December 28, 2023 Bookmark AP concludes at least hundreds died in floods... December 28, 2023 Bookmark Live updates | Israeli forces raid a West... 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