WASHINGTON — A Trump supporter was filming with his GoPro strapped on to his helmet, when he jumped through an open window to storm the U.S. Capitol. He was sentenced Tuesday to nine months imprisonment.
Anthony Puma, a Michigan resident pleaded guilty to the charges in August. He admitted that he had his GoPro strapped on his head and recorded him bragging about climbing a Capitol wall before leaping through a window. He was found in Senator Jeff Merkley’s Senate hideaway office where rioters were smoking pot.
“There you are. Right through the f —— Window. After jumping through the window, Puma stated that this is how we do it.
The Justice Department wanted 18 Months in Federal Prison and pointed out his preplanning to storm Capitol.
“On the 6th, when we are all in the capital and he has givin his second term, the people will see. You never know when we may have to begin killing some commies b ——-. Puma posted #stoptheesteal on Facebook in December 2020. He posted another warning on January 5, 2021. Later, he asked, “When do we storm the House of Representatives?”
Later, he wrote, “Hopefully, we are storming Congress tomorrow at 100pm.”
Puma’s lawyers claimed that he had been severely punished enough.
His lawyers stated that “despite Mr. Puma’s disrespectful and stupid conduct on January 6, 2021 it is the truth that he was not violent, never destroyed properties, and didn’t bring weapons or act with extremist groups.”
Puma’s lawyer pointed out Tuesday that Puma had not made any social media statements to downplay what he did over the past two years. The attorney stated that Puma feels “manipulated and tricked” by political leaders. “We can be sure that Mr. Puma really is sorry.”
Puma, in tears, addressed the court and apologized to his family. He also said that he had many law enforcement friends. His middle son, who was not a sports fan, addressed the judge. However, his wife said that Puma was a man with faith and this was against his character.
She said that he may have done “an ignorant, unimaginable act” and “made poor decisions”, but that’s not all he is. She added, “I don’t know why he did that.”
Judge Paul Friedman pronounced Puma’s sentence. “Were your deceived by Donald Trump or by QAnon?” Friedman stated that yes, it could be. Friedman said that adults must take responsibility for their actions.
The representing Puma, the Office of the D.C. Federal Public Defender opposed the publication of the GoPro videos. This is the first time the office has reacted against the release of footage in a Jan. 6 case. According to the office, “extraordinary circumstances” forced it to oppose the release of the GoPro videos because Mr. If the media release the video exhibits in the case to the public, Puma’s livelihood will be at risk.
The office stated that the media had access to almost all video exhibits filed in January 6-cases for nearly two years, regardless of any special interests in specific defendants in each case.
Puma’s defense team stated that they are primarily concerned about their client but that “it is worthwhile also noting that many individuals in his GoPro footage have not been charged and are implicated by the surveillance” and that release “could cause prejudice to other uncharged individuals.”
NBC News was part of the media alliance that requested access. The judge granted the request.
