A 20-year veteran of the New York Police Division (NYPD) was discovered responsible of assaulting an officer throughout the January 6, 2021 riot on the U.S. Capitol, with the jury rejecting his declare that he acted in self-defense when he attacked Officer Noah Rathbun.

Thomas Webster, 56, was among the many first Capitol riot defendants to face trial for assault fees and the primary defendant to say self-defense, based on the Related Press. The argument did not persuade a federal jury, who on Monday convicted Webster on six counts, together with one cost that he assaulted Rathbun with a steel flag pole. Jurors informed WUSA 9 Information that the choice was "very fast and apparent."

Webster, who lives in Goshen, New York, traveled to D.C. the day earlier than the Capitol riot. Carrying a bulletproof vest and carrying a Marine Corps flag on a steel pole, the previous police officer attended each President Donald Trump's "Cease the Steal" rally and the riot, although he testified in courtroom that he by no means meant to bodily intervene within the certification of the 2020 presidential election. He claimed that he solely wished to encourage D.C. lawmakers to rethink the election outcomes.

Webster beforehand claimed that Rathbun had been the one to instigate the battle on the Capitol, calling him a "rogue cop" and claiming that he punched him within the face. Rathbun denied that model of occasions in his personal testimony.

thomas webster capitol riot sentencing
Thomas Webster was convicted of assault fees in reference to the riot on the U.S. Capitol after his declare of self-defense did not sway a jury. Above, rioters in help of then-President Donald Trump swarm the U.S. Capitol constructing on January 6, 2021.Jon Cherry/Getty Photographs

Rathbun's bodycam footage, which was considered by the jury, appeared to indicate Webster shouting quite a few profanities within the lead as much as the altercation. Rathbun then pushed a motorbike rack at Webster earlier than hanging him with an open hand, which Rathbun claimed was his try and maintain Webster behind the safety perimeter. In response, Webster swung the steel pole on the officer, resulting in a harried confrontation by which Rathbun was tackled to the bottom.

U.S. District Choose Amit Mehta set Webster's sentencing for September 2 and allowed him to stay at house till then. The prosecution initially referred to as for Webster to be saved in jail as an alternative, however Mehta famous that he had been compliant with earlier restricted launch circumstances.

The cost of assaulting Rathbun with a weapon carries a most penalty of 20 years in jail. Nevertheless, provided that essentially the most jail time a Capitol riot defendant has been sentenced to to date has been slightly over 5 years, he isn't prone to obtain such a harsh sentence.

The total checklist of fees towards Webster was as follows: assaulting, resisting, or impeding an officer utilizing a harmful weapon; civil dysfunction; coming into and remaining in restricted grounds with a harmful weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in restricted grounds with a harmful weapon; participating in bodily violence in restricted grounds with a harmful weapon; and, participating in an act of bodily violence on Capitol grounds.

Newsweek reached out to Webster's legal professional for remark.