The mom of a Pennsylvania man who pleaded responsible to rioting on the Capitol blames members of the far-right media, corresponding to Rush Limbaugh and Alex Jones, for fueling her son's actions.

Jackson Kostolsky, 32, of Allentown, pleaded responsible this previous September to a cost of illegal picketing after admitting to collaborating within the January 6 assault on the Capitol constructing. He may resist six months behind bars and a most advantageous of $5,000.

Forward of his sentencing Jan. 11, CBS Information congressional correspondent Scott MacFarlane was capable of get hold of a replica of a letter that Kostolsky's mom despatched to the choose asking him for a lightweight punishment.

"Someplace alongside the best way whereas in his 20s and dwelling at his father's, Jackson turned impressed by the far-right media. (Only for the report, his dad and I are each registered Democrats)," the letter learn. "He was very influenced by Rush Limbaugh and, sadly, Alex Jones and his conspiracy theories. It appeared to gas his anger points."

"He believes every part Alex Jones has to say. Jack is what I consider to be a sufferer of the media," the letter continued. "We differ alot in our political opinions, however we do have clever discussions and debates ... I do know in my coronary heart that my son just isn't an insurrectionist."

Kostolsky's mom is certainly one of quite a few events who've acknowledged that the actions of the January 6 rioters have been provoked or incited by conservative politicians and the right-wing media. Limbaugh and Jones are two people who find themselves usually equally named as such.

Limbaugh, who handed away in February 2021, was a conservative radio host whose nationally syndicated present, The Rush Limbaugh Present, turned one of many most-listened-to discuss applications within the nation. Limbaugh was a staunch member of the correct, and confronted controversies all through his profession for selling quite a few conspiracy theories.

This contains as soon as claiming that the COVID-19 virus was the identical as a standard chilly, and maybe most famously, spreading the conspiracy idea that former President Barack Obama was not born in the USA. Limbaugh was additionally a big supporter of former President Donald Trump, who awarded him the Presidential Medal of Freedom earlier than his dying.

January 6
The mom of a Capitol rioter has despatched a letter to a choose arguing that her son was influenced by members of the right-wing media within the lead-up to the January 6 assault, stating that she didn't consider her son was an insurrectionist and asking for leniency. Right here, the continued assault will be seen on Jan. 6, 2021. Jon Cherry/Getty

Jones, in the meantime, has grow to be one of the notorious far-right radio hosts within the nation, due partially to rampant conspiracy theories that he has promoted on his platforms, together with The Alex Jones Present and his web site InfoWars.

This contains, amongst different issues, the unfounded declare that tens of millions of unlawful immigrants voted within the 2016 presidential election. Jones has additionally promoted conspiracies surrounding quite a few mass shootings, and has acknowledged that the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary College bloodbath was a false-flag operation.

Within the lead-up to the occasions of Jan. 6, 2021, Jones was additionally one of the ardent spreaders of the debunked declare that President Joe Biden gained the 2020 election because of nationwide voter fraud.

Jones was reportedly in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 5, 2021, and a video posted to InfoWars exhibits him riling up a crowd of supporters who would later march on the Capitol.

The declare from Kostolsky's mom that the media was chargeable for her son's actions has been used as a protection by others charged within the riot. One public defender acknowledged that her consumer "fell prey to the false and inflammatory claims of ... the correct wing media."

Nonetheless, it is a place which has not been corroborated by the overwhelming majority of judges in these trials.

Newsweek has reached out to InfoWars for remark.