A Trump fan was sentenced to five years in prison for storming the US Capitol

A US court has issued the toughest sentence yet against a supporter of former US President Donald Trump for storming the Capitol in January. Federal District Judge Tanya Chutkan has sentenced Robert Scott Palmer, a Trump supporter, to five years in prison for attacking police officers. Videos showed Palmer throwing planks, a fire extinguisher and other items at police in front of the Capitol.

The 54-year-old did not make it to the Capitol itself after officials stopped him with pepper spray and rubber bullets. The man did not succeed in asking for extenuating circumstances due to his difficult childhood and a handwritten apology. In it, he wrote, the “tyrannical” Trump had misled him and others into attacking Parliament with lies.

However, prosecutors noted that even after pleading guilty in early October, Palmer defended his actions and identified police as the attacker on a donation site he created.

The harshest sentence to date for the attack on the Capitol was 41 months in prison for two men accused of obstructing an official trial. However, they were not accused of attacking law enforcement agencies.

More than 700 people have been charged in connection with the attack, most of them for minor crimes such as illegally entering the Capitol. However, dozens are charged with assault, carrying deadly weapons and conspiracy, all of which can lead to harsh sentences.