A retired New Jersey State Police trooper who participated in the storming of the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021, as part of a mob supporting then-President Donald Trump has been sentenced to probation instead of prison. The federal courts marked a milestone in the punishment of Capitol rioters as Michael Daniele, 61, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta on Friday.
Videos captured Daniele yelling and gesturing aggressively near police officers outside the Capitol before he entered the building. Before being sentenced, Daniele expressed remorse for his actions, stating, “My family has been through hell. I would never do anything like this again.” The judge sentenced Daniele to two years of probation, including 30 days of home confinement with electronic monitoring, and imposed a $2,500 fine. Prosecutors had recommended an 11-month prison term for Daniele.
The sentencing of Daniele marked a significant moment as the number of Capitol riot-related sentencings surpassed 1,000. Over 1,500 individuals have been charged with federal crimes related to the events of January 6, with more than 600 having been convicted and sentenced to prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years, while over 200 have been placed on some form of home confinement.
Despite being convicted of misdemeanors, Daniele was acquitted of felony charges of interfering with police during a civil disorder. Judge Mehta emphasised to Daniele that his actions were unacceptable, noting, “I cannot believe that you thought it was okay to be inside the United States Capitol on January 6th.” While Daniele did not physically harm any police officers or cause damage, the judge highlighted his moral responsibility due to his law enforcement background.
Prosecutors argued that Daniele, given his training and experience, should have known better than to participate in the violent mob that breached the Capitol. Daniele travelled from New Jersey to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally and later joined the rioters at the Capitol, where he spent about six minutes inside the building. During an FBI interview, Daniele referred to the events of January 6 as a setup and blamed the police for the violence, despite his own law enforcement background.
Daniele’s defence attorney, Stuart Kaplan, argued against incarceration, stating that his client had made regrettable choices but had redeeming qualities. The lawyer believed that imprisoning Daniele would be a waste of taxpayer money. The sentencing of Daniele reflects the ongoing legal repercussions faced by individuals involved in the Capitol riot, as authorities continue to hold those accountable for their actions on that fateful day.