- An Air Force veteran who entered the Senate floor on January 6, 2021 was sentenced to two years in prison.
- Larry R. Bullock entered the Capitol and was seen in zip ties handcuffed on the floor of the Senate.
- U.S. District Court Judge John Bates described Bullock’s actions as “horrifying and atrocious.”
A judge on Friday sentenced an Air Force veteran to two years in prison for wearing a bulletproof vest and carrying zip-tie handcuffs for entering the Senate floor during the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol.
Larry R. Bullock, a 55-year-old retired lieutenant colonel, said then-Vice President Mike Pence was shaken by President Donald Trump’s 2020 defeat, and security guards threw then-Vice President Mike Pence out of the chamber. He joined other mobs on the Senate floor just minutes after the crowd was shaken. Until current President Joe Biden was tearing down buildings.
A court convicted Brock, who lives in Galveston, Texas, in November on six counts, including obstruction of official process, which is a felony.
In explaining the ruling, U.S. District Judge John Bates described Bullock’s actions in harsh terms.
“The statement from the former high-ranking official is truly astounding. It is astonishing and brutal,” the judge said.
The judge lowered the federal sentencing range from 57 to 71 months to 24 to 30 months given the dynamics of this particular case, including Brock’s lack of military service and criminal record. He said the decision also took into account the extreme rhetoric seen in Brock’s Facebook posts read out in court.
“I find the statements made by senior military officers particularly reprehensible and, frankly, unbelievable,” the judge said. “It’s detailed. It’s consistent.
The judge added, “I think it’s safe to say his rhetoric is too extreme.”
In one of Bullock’s Facebook posts, he spoke of a “civil war” following Trump’s election loss.
“Traitors who are trying to steal elections must be executed, including media and social media leaders aiding and abetting coup plotters,” Bullock said in November 2020. I wrote on social media platforms.
“Absolutely, we should not accept this fraudulent election. Added using court acronym
In a post written on Christmas Eve that year, Bullock said:
Prosecutors said Bullock crossed the Senate floor during the Jan. 6 attacks, wore a helmet and a tactical vest, and walked through the senator’s desk with plastic zip ties handcuffs. also said the blockers attempted to unlock the door Pence was using just before the mob entered the Senate Chamber.
Prosecutor April Ayers Perez said of Biden’s proof of victory, “Brock was part of a large mob that blocked the proceedings.” “They kept stalling the proceedings just by being there. Brock was on the Senate floor where he was supposed to be discussing Arizona at that very moment.”
Brock chose not to address the court during his sentencing.
In addition to serving a two-year sentence, Bates must serve two years of supervised release after spending time in prison. He must also do 100 hours of community service.
Defense attorney Charles Burnham said Bullock was considering appealing the decision.
