Man who attacked Capitol with tomahawk and now promotes Jan. 6 merchandise gets 7 years in prison

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A Texan individual, Shane Jenkins, who was involved in the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, wielding a metal tomahawk, has now received a seven-year prison sentence. During the siege, Jenkins attempted to break a Capitol window with his tomahawk and engaged in multiple acts of violence, including hurling various makeshift weapons at police officers, such as a desk drawer, a flagpole, a metal walking stick, and a wooden pole with a spear-like tip.

Notably, Jenkins has become the face of a website that sells merchandise depicting the incarcerated rioters as “political prisoners.” This online platform offers a range of items, including T-shirts, hoodies, hats, and tote bags, bearing slogans like “Free the J6 political prisoners” and “Want my vote? Help the J6ers.” Additionally, it features a shirt with the mugshot of former President Donald Trump accompanied by the phrase “Indicted we stand.” The website also showcases a cartoon avatar of Jenkins, known as Skullet, and a logo featuring crossed tomahawks below a silhouette of the Capitol building.

Prosecutors have been unable to determine the exact proceeds generated by Jenkins from the sale of merchandise on the website. However, they have disclosed that he collected over $118,000 in donations through another fundraising platform. They assert that Jenkins has chosen to exploit his involvement in the January 6 events to establish a brand and gain financial rewards, rather than acknowledging the harm he caused, reflecting on his actions, or showing remorse.

In response to these allegations, Jenkins’ defense attorney, Dennis Boyle, contends that his client has not profited from the sale of January 6-themed merchandise and does not own the website responsible for its distribution, though he is uncertain of its true owner.

During the sentencing, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta expressed his disapproval of Jenkins’ capitalizing on his role in the riot, deeming it “shameful.” Judge Mehta also rejected the notion that Jenkins and other incarcerated rioters are political prisoners, asserting that the evidence, captured on video, disproves such claims.

Jenkins himself expressed remorse for his actions on January 6, citing the heat of the moment as a factor in his behavior. He emphasized his love for the country and denied any intention of wanting to destroy it.

Prosecutors had recommended a sentence of 19 years and eight months, along with a fine equal to the $118,888 publicly raised by Jenkins. However, Judge Mehta declined to impose the fine and rejected the request for a “terrorism” enhancement that would have significantly increased the sentencing guidelines.

Jenkins was convicted in March on various charges, including civil disorder and obstructing the joint session of Congress on January 6, which certified Joe Biden’s presidential election victory over Donald Trump. Jenkins traveled from Houston to Washington, D.C., under the false belief that the 2020 election had been stolen from Trump, envisioning a violent confrontation at the Capitol.

Defense attorney Boyle argued that Jenkins’ actions stemmed from a misunderstanding of the election, distinguishing him from those who propagate unfounded claims about the election’s outcome.

While Jenkins’ defense alluded to a challenging upbringing and a prior incident in which he fatally shot his stepfather in self-defense, prosecutors countered that he had a lengthy criminal record, including assault convictions, indicating a propensity for violence.

Furthermore, in July, Jenkins and 11 other inmates at the Washington jail assaulted another Capitol riot defendant, Taylor Taranto, due to derogatory comments made about Ashli Babbitt, a rioter fatally shot by a police officer during the events.

Jenkins played a pivotal role in the attack by repeatedly striking a windowpane with the spike end of his tomahawk, eventually breaching it. This act allowed rioters to enter a conference room where they fashioned weapons from broken furniture pieces, subsequently using them to attack police officers.

The January 6th attack on the Capitol has led to numerous arrests and legal proceedings, with more than 1,100 people facing federal charges related to the events. Approximately 800 individuals have either pleaded guilty or been convicted in trials, with over 650 receiving sentences, ranging from three days to 22 years, according to an analysis of court records.

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• Texas man sentenced to 7 years for attacking Capitol
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• Website selling January 6-themed merchandise
• Shane Jenkins’ fundraising activities
• Court’s rejection of political prisoner claims
• Motivation behind Shane Jenkins’ actions
• Shane Jenkins’ expressions of remorse
• Shane Jenkins’ role in the Capitol attack
• Legal consequences for January 6th Capitol attack participants