A Capitol Trespasser’s Unfair Sentence Shows Urgency for True Justice
A 36-second walk in the Capitol on January 6 led D.C. Judge Reggie Walton to impose a 60-day prison sentence, $3000 in fines, and one year of supervised release on Daniel Goodwyn. Despite the lack of violence or vandalism, the Department of Justice is determined to penalize non-violent J6 defendants for every second of support they receive from the public, setting a tense tone for those who have not yet faced arrest, conviction, or sentencing.
On January 31, 2023, Daniel Goodwyn pleaded guilty to a single misdemeanor trespassing charge relating to the events in the Capitol on January 6th. His sentencing was delayed when he passionately stated, “Ashli Babbit did nothing wrong!”, clearly infuriating Judge Walton. Walton expressed annoyance at Donald Trump’s words against Babbitt’s shooter, Lt. Michael Leroy Byrd, and decided to delay the hearing to have time for deeper reflection.
In pleading for leniency for Goodwyn, his attorney Carolyn Stewart asked Judge Walton to “understand autism” and to consider the character assassination endured by Goodwyn resulting from the media’s twisted lies. Still, the government argued that Goodwyn’s actions, including his time spent in the Capitol, his tweets during the event, and his appearance on Tucker Carlson, warranted a harsh sentence.
U.S. Attorney Michael Graves focused more on Goodwyn’s fundraising and lack of remorse shown during his public appearances than on his brief time in the Capitol. The government’s request for 90 days of incarceration, forfeiture
