A January 6 rioter who insulted a federal judge had his sentence reduced this week by the same judge he previously called a "clown."
The Judge's Ruling
On Friday, Chief Judge James Boasberg reduced the prison sentence for U.S. Capitol rioter Marc Bru by one year, despite the defendant's repeated disruptive courtroom conduct, which included berating the judge.
Bru, who also previously criticized his prison conditions while also directing insults at Boasberg, refrained from further outbursts as he was resentenced to five years in prison. Bru's reduced sentence follows a U.S. Supreme Court decision that restricted the government's application of a federal obstruction statute.
Bru's Criticism of the Judge
Bru, 44, participated in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack alongside members of the Proud Boys, an extremist group. During the riot, he shoved a barricade against police officers and later entered the Capitol, making his way to the Senate gallery, where he displayed a hand gesture linked to the Proud Boys.
While Bru was not among the most violent participants in the attack, his post-riot behavior was "the worst I think I've seen of anyone," the judge remarked.
"In my 22 years as a judge, I've never seen a defendant say the things he said at sentencing," Judge Boasberg said.
During his initial sentencing hearing in January, Bru repeatedly interrupted Boasberg, calling him a "clown" and a "fraud" overseeing a "kangaroo court." He also described a prosecutor as "despicable and repugnant."
"You can give me 100 years, and I'd do it all over again," Bru said.
Boasberg found Bru guilty of seven charges, including two felonies, following a bench trial last year.
On Friday, Bru initially allowed his attorney to speak on his behalf and chose not to address the court before Boasberg issued his sentence. However, he responded when the judge, as part of standard procedure, inquired if he had any objections to the new sentence.
Having spent 15 months in various detention facilities, Bru described his time behind bars as an "eye-opener to the conditions and the realities that lie within the walls."
"Putting me in that system longer, it is not that much of a deterrent," Bru said. "It doesn't help."
January 6 Riots
Over 1,500 individuals have faced charges related to the January 6 Capitol attack, carried out by supporters of President-elect Donald Trump. While campaigning for president in 2024, Trump pledged to pardon many of those involved and has referred to them as "patriots" and "hostages."
Several Capitol rioters have pointed to Trump's campaign rhetoric when requesting judges delay their cases. However, the topic of potential pardons did not arise during Bru's resentencing.
Bru is among a small group of January 6 defendants to be resentenced after a June Supreme Court ruling overturned convictions on a key felony obstruction charge. In a 6-3 decision, the court determined that obstruction of an official proceeding requires evidence that a defendant attempted to tamper with or destroy documents, a criterion that applies to only a limited number of cases stemming from the Capitol riot.
The removal of Bru's obstruction conviction significantly lowered his recommended prison sentence, reducing the range from 70 to 87 months to just 18 to 24 months.
This article includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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