A dramatic scene unfolded in Washington, D.C. District Court on Friday as a federal judge sentenced Philip Grillo, a New York man involved in the January 6 Capitol riot.
Grillo was convicted last year on five charges, including obstruction of an official proceeding (a felony) and several misdemeanors, such as entering a restricted building, disorderly conduct in the Capitol, and participating in a protest in the Capitol building.
Before delivering the sentence, Senior Judge Royce Lamberth spoke briefly. He emphasized that his duty was to uphold justice, regardless of political views. “The president will do his job, and I will do mine,” he said, stressing that justice must be served no matter the political climate.
Judge Lamberth sentenced Grillo to one year in prison, followed by one year of supervised release. After the sentence, Grillo yelled at the judge, saying, “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways!”
CNN’s Katelyn Polantz described the moment, noting that while Grillo’s crimes were nonviolent, they were still felonies. She highlighted how rare it is for a judge to immediately send someone to prison in cases like this. As Grillo was being handcuffed, he yelled again, “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways!”
Grillo had two friends with him in court who claimed to be Republican Party officials from the Bronx and Queens. They shouted their support, telling him not to worry, saying, “Donald’s gonna take care of you.”
Former President Trump has previously stated that he would consider pardoning people involved in the Capitol riot, calling them “unbelievable patriots.”