The US Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, resulted in the conviction of Leo Brent Bozell IV, the son of a prominent conservative activist.During this incident, he smashed a window, pursued a police officer, breached the Senate floor, and contributed to the disruption of the certification of Joe Biden’s presidential election victory.
Guilty of 10 Charges
The federal justice department reported that Leo Brent Bozell IV, who is 44 years old and comes from Palmyra, Pennsylvania, was found guilty of ten charges, including five felonies, in a trial presided over by a federal judge.
The presiding judge, US District Judge John Bates, conducted a trial without a jury, ultimately convicting Bozell on various counts, including obstructing the joint session of Congress held on January 6 to certify Biden’s electoral college win over then-President Donald Trump.
Prosecutors argued that Bozell played a significant role in the chaos and obstruction that unfolded at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, prior to his conviction. The sentencing for Bozell is scheduled for January 9. Bozell’s attorney, William Shipley Jr, did not provide immediate comment in response to an email request on Saturday.
“Stop the Steal”
Before the riot at the Capitol, prosecutors stated that Bozell actively participated in planning and coordinating events in Washington to support Trump’s “Stop the Steal” movement. After Trump‘s rally near the White House on January 6, Bozell marched to the Capitol and participated in a mob that breached a police line. He was responsible for smashing a window next to the Senate wing door, which allowed hundreds of rioters to gain entry, according to prosecutors.
Afterward, video footage captured Bozell entering the office of then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a California Democrat, and it appeared that he was holding something when he left.
C-Span Camera
Once inside the Senate gallery, Bozell repositioned a C-Span camera to prevent it from recording rioters ransacking the chamber during a live video feed. He spent several minutes on the Senate floor as well.
Bozell roamed the Capitol for nearly an hour, accessing various areas of the building and crossing seven police lines before officers eventually escorted him out, according to prosecutors.
In a pretrial court filing, Bozell’s lawyer refuted claims that Bozell had a role in overwhelming a police line or engaging in violence against law enforcement officers. Shipley argued that video evidence would demonstrate that Bozell offered assistance to some law enforcement officers he believed could benefit from his help. Additionally, Shipley argued that Bozell primarily experienced disorientation and moved from place to place, merely observing events as they unfolded.
Law enforcement apprehended Bozell in February 2021 after an FBI tipster recognized him, partly because of the “Hershey Christian Academy” sweatshirt he had worn on January 6.
To date, more than 1,100 individuals have faced federal charges related to the Capitol attack.
