From the Department of Justice:
A Florida man pleaded guilty today to assaulting law enforcement with dangerous weapons during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, which disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of ascertaining and counting the electoral votes related to the presidential election.
According to court documents, Robert Scott Palmer, 54, of Largo, was among rioters outside the U.S. Capitol on the afternoon of Jan. 6. At approximately 4:53 p.m., he was standing near the archway leading from the lower west terrace to the interior of the Capitol.
While there, he threw a wooden plank at U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) and Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers protecting the lower west terrace entrance. Approximately two minutes later, he was at the front line of rioters confronting the officers located within the lower west terrace archway.
At this time, Palmer sprayed the contents of a fire extinguisher at the officers until it was empty. He then threw the fire extinguisher at the officers.
Although no specific injury was tied to this conduct, based on the size and weight of the plank and fire extinguisher, and the speed and force with which Palmer threw them, the objects were capable of inflicting serious bodily injury.
Palmer was arrested in Florida on March 17, and is scheduled to be sentenced on Dec. 17 at 12:30 p.m. He faces a statutory maximum penalty of up to 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine for assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers using a dangerous weapon.
A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Sentencing Guidelines and other statutory factors.
NEW: Court unseals criminal case against Robert Palmer of Florida.. accused of spraying police with fire extinguisher, then throwing the extinguisher at officers — during US Capitol Insurrection.
Feds say he wore a “Florida for Trump” hat pic.twitter.com/A61iEAjWB7
— Scott MacFarlane (@MacFarlaneNews) March 18, 2021
A plea hearing is now underway for Robert Scott Palmer, aka #FloridaFlagMan. He lawyered up and contacted the FBI after he got a call from HuffPost. https://t.co/qqd6mGIIw9
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) October 4, 2021
The central role of crowdsourcing in the case against Robert Scott Palmer is sort of erased from the official narrative, but make no mistake: #seditionhunters solved this case. His case has been adjudicated and he’s in jail because of the work of sleuths. https://t.co/mQz8WDZyYF
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) October 4, 2021
Judge Chutkan is going through the statement offense for Robert Palmer. Asks him if he threw a wooden plank and fire extinguisher at officers.
“Yes ma’am,” he says. pic.twitter.com/JLoGnUrB4n
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) October 4, 2021
Robert Scott Palmer is pleading guilty to count three of his indictment: assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon. The estimated sentencing guidelines are 46-57 months. He does have a prior conviction from the late 90’s that may factor in. pic.twitter.com/S20lLui9Tb
— Jordan Fischer (@JordanOnRecord) October 4, 2021
Judge: Did you throw a wooden plank at officers
“Yes, ma’am.”
Did you spray officers with a fire extinguisher?
“Yes, ma’am.”
Did you throw the fire extinguisher at police officers?
“Yes, ma’am.”
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) October 4, 2021