WASHINGTON – A federal judge expressed concern over the possibility of another violent attack instigated by former President Trump’s supporters leading up to or following the 2024 presidential election. During a sentencing hearing for Jeffrey Sabol, a Colorado geophysicist involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol attack, U.S. District Judge Rudy Contreras expressed worries about the potential for violence under such circumstances.
Sabol, sentenced to more than five years in federal prison, had told the FBI that he believed the election was stolen and that Dominion voting machines had been tampered with. He also claimed to have acted out of “patriotic rage” in response to a “call to battle” announced on Jan. 6. Judge Contreras pointed to Trump and his allies as having played a role in spurring the attack on the Capitol, expressing concerns that individuals like Sabol might react similarly if urged to do so again.
Sabol, who committed multiple assaults on officers during the Capitol attack, was among the few Jan. 6 defendants held pretrial, having already served a significant portion of his sentence since his arrest shortly after the event. In addition to his prison term, Sabol was ordered to pay restitution and serve three years of supervised release.
Many Trump supporters interpreted the former president’s tweet urging people to come to Washington on Jan. 6 as a “call to arms.” As cases against hundreds of Trump supporters proceed in federal court, defendants have cited their belief in Trump’s unfounded claims about the election as motivation for their actions.
Some defendants have admitted to feeling duped and manipulated, expressing regret for their lack of critical thinking. Micki Witthoeft, mother of Jan. 6 rioter Ashli Babbit, attended Sabol’s sentencing and reported having spoken to Trump about setting defendants free upon his return to power.
With Trump currently facing trial for his attempts to overturn the election results, the Supreme Court will soon hear arguments on his claim of presidential immunity from criminal charges. Several federal judges in Washington, including Contreras and Judge Amy Berman Jackson, have held Trump responsible for the events of Jan. 6.
Judge Jackson emphasized the continuing threat to democracy posed by the propagation of lies about the election’s legitimacy. Senior U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth expressed disbelief at the adoption of “preposterous” claims by Republican politicians about the Jan. 6 events, warning of the potential dangers posed by such misinformation.