Prosecutors said Sullivan was a self-proclaimed activist with anarchist views who brought a tactical vest, gas mask, megaphone and knife to the riot.Seeking prison sentence For more than seven years, Assistant U.S. Attorneys Rebecca Lederer and Michael Barclay said Sullivan “shared a desire to see the government burn” and that vote certification was halted. Ta.
Defense attorney Stephen Keesh said Sullivan was born in Virginia, adopted by a retired Army lieutenant colonel and his wife, and moved to Utah, where he trained to become an Olympic speed skater before suffering an injury. It is said that the activities have been suspended. Mr. Keish cited more than a dozen letters from Mr. Sullivan's friends and family who described Mr. Sullivan as “very different” from what the jury saw. The attorney wrote that Sullivan was “a man who demonstrated a sense of responsibility and dedication to his family, friends, and community, who sought to improve the lives of those around him, and who lived an admirable and caring life.” ing.
Since his conviction, Sullivan has been held in virtual solitary protective custody at a D.C. prison, but authorities say he holds opposing political views and will be housed with other defendants on January 6. Sullivan said it was determined that the incident posed a “threat to physical safety.” the lawyer said. Keesh asked U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth for a 30-month prison sentence.
Sullivan had expressed support for the Black Lives Matter movement in the past, and conservatives like Rudy Giuliani sought to distract from what motivated the overwhelmingly pro-Trump crowd. , alleging that Mr. Sullivan was a left-wing agitator of the mob. More than 1,350 people have been charged, nearly 500 of them accused of assaulting police, 130 of whom were armed or injured.
Prosecutors argued that Sullivan's interests were complex and that he was an agent of an anti-establishment disorderly movement who shared the goal of attacking Congress and creating a presidential transition. Sullivan has amassed about 500,000 followers on social media by posting content related to protests after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, using personas such as “Jaden did.
He said he was targeted by conservatives who believed he was a Black Lives Matter activist after he organized a protest in Provo, Utah, in July 2020 in which a motorist was shot and killed. Black Lives Matter activists in Utah said Sullivan was not part of their group and called on protesters to avoid him, calling him a troublemaker and riot chaser.
In the winter of 2020, Sullivan said in a social media post, “The government is going to begin a purge of voters.” “It's time to burn it all down,” he wrote in another post on January 2, 2021. He was recorded saying “I'm going to drop this on the ground” and “Let's do this” at the Capitol. This is—up. ”
Sullivan grew up in Stafford, Virginia, about 72 miles from Washington. His younger brother James is a conservative activist who criticizes John's liberal politics. The brothers' rift was the subject of an unaired documentary called “A House Divided,” directed by Jade Thacker, which chronicled the pair in Washington, and some of the video was shown at trial.
