Rioter Who Beat Capitol Cop With 2X4 Gets Three Years

Via press release from the Justice Department:

A Colorado man was sentenced today on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021.

His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the 2020 presidential election.

Jacob Travis Clark, 34, of Colorado Springs, Colorado, was sentenced to 33 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release by U.S. District Judge Dabney L. Friedrich.

Clark was found guilty of one felony and five misdemeanors following a Jan. 30, 2023, bench trial before Judge Friedrich in the District of Columbia.

According to court documents, Clark anticipated violence well before January 6. In one of his text messages, he stated that he anticipated January 6 to be a “revolt.”

According to Clark, “They are going into D.C. and bringing guns. Which isn’t allowed in D.C. They aren’t gonna let Biden win.”

Court documents say that Clark intended to go to Washington D.C. on January 6 and “be a part of history.”

On Jan. 5, 2021, Clark drove from his home in Colorado to Washington, D.C. The next day, Clark attended the rally at the Ellipse, during which he anticipated violence, as he texted his father, “It’s a trump thing I’m here for the riots when they say he isn’t the winner lol.”

After the rally, Clark walked to the West Front of the U.S. Capitol grounds and joined the mob, forcing their way through the barricades.

On the grounds, he continued to text his friends, “We are gonna storm the capital.” At 2:14 p.m., Clark was among the first to enter the U.S. Capitol building through the Senate Wing doors.

Inside the Capitol, Clark went onto the second floor, onto the third floor, inside the Rotunda, and walked through multiple hallways.

Clark continued to send texts stating, “yeah I’m in the capitol (sic) building” and “we stormed it and busted the door down.” He claimed to be the first rioter to enter the Senate Chambers.

Clark was then observed walking down the hallway from the Senate Wing Door toward the Crypt holding a 2×4 wooden plank.

Moments later, a U.S. Capitol Police Officer (USCP) was hit with the wooden 2×4 plank, which forced the officer to retreat into the Crypt in visible pain.

Clark later joined a crowd of rioters, pointed at police, and threatened them. The mob forced the police to retreat, and Clark proceeded deeper into the building.

At about 3:53 p.m., Clark left the Capitol through the Senate Carriage door after spending nearly 40 minutes inside.

Clark continued to brag via text messages about his unlawful escapade, sending pictures and saying, “I helped break down the door,” “I was the first one in the chamber,” “We took the whole thing. They had to evacuate.” Clark later wrote of his actions on January 6th to a friend, stating, “We do it everyday they try to vote.”

Read the full press release.