Dustin Thompson, a 38-year-old Ohio destroyer, has faced six charges – obstruction of official proceedings, theft of state property, illegal entry into the Capitol, illegal protest in the Capitol, and two charges of hooliganism in the Capitol.
Following the verdict, Federal Judge Reggie Walton criticized the behavior of former President Donald Trump.
“The uprising, and in fact it was, is very disturbing,” Walton said. “I think our democracy is in trouble because, unfortunately, we have charlatans, like the former president, in my opinion, who are not interested in democracy and are only interested in power.
The trial was the first time a Capitol riot accused tried to convince jurors that Trump was responsible for the violence on January 6, 2021. Thompson’s lawyer told jurors that Trump was an “evil and sinister man” who was incited the revolt with his inflammatory speech on Ellipse, where he told his supporters to march to the Capitol and fight “like hell.”
Thompson testified that he believed he was acting on Trump’s orders.
“Apart from being ordered by the president to go to the Capitol, I don’t know what I was thinking,” Thompson told a jury on Wednesday. “I was caught right now.”
“If the president almost gives you an order to do something, I felt compelled to do it,” Thompson said.
Prosecutors scoffed at the idea, claiming that Thompson was an adult capable of making his own decisions, and told the jury that Trump was not on trial.
“This is not a criminal case against President Trump,” prosecutor William Drecher said Thursday. “This indication that the defense attorney is trying to make you angry” by Trump, “is just a side demonstration.”
A juror told CNN after the verdict that jurors were only considering whether Thompson was a “willing participant.”
“The only thing we discussed was whether he wanted to participate,” the juror said. “A lot of people were there and then they went home. Dustin Thompson didn’t, and that’s the difference.”
The juror added that they “just assessed the case on the merits. I don’t think anyone thought of Donald Trump, although obviously a lot of people have feelings.”
Impact on future cases
The conviction could have serious consequences for many other defendants who tried to shift the blame to the former president. The judges were largely skeptical of the defendants’ arguments that Trump made me do it, but this is the first time the jury has officially rejected him.
This could also be reflected in Trump’s legal challenges. Trump is facing numerous civil cases for allegedly inciting the mafia. A federal judge in California said last month that it was “more likely than not” that Trump had committed a crime in an attempt to persuade then-Vice President Mike Pence to reject the Electoral College.
A jury of seven men and five women debated for less than three hours on Thursday.
As he sent Thompson to jail immediately awaiting sentencing, Walton said, “You make your bed, you lie in it.” Thompson then took off his tie, belt and jacket and was handcuffed behind by a US Deputy Marshal and escorted from the courtroom.
Thompson’s most serious charge – obstruction of official proceedings, a crime – carries up to 20 years in prison. He will be convicted in July.
Nearly 800 people have been arrested in connection with Jan. 6, and more than 250 people have pleaded guilty to federal charges. So far, three people have been convicted by jurors, and several more trials are scheduled this spring.
This story has been updated with additional details.
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