A conservative activist’s son, Leo Brent Bozell IV, was sentenced to nearly four years in prison for his actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Bozell was among the first rioters to enter the Capitol and was one of the first to reach the Senate floor. He smashed a window, chased a police officer, and invaded the Senate floor during the siege. Bozell, the son of prominent conservative activist L. Brent Bozell III, founder of the Media Research Center and other media organizations, apologized to Capitol police officers in the courtroom before being sentenced to three years and nine months behind bars.
The judge noted that storming the Capitol was not a spontaneous act for Bozell, as he had made plans to go to the Capitol on Jan. 6 and anticipated violence that day. Prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of 11 years and eight months for Bozell, citing his “relentless and sustained attacks” on law enforcement. Bozell was arrested in February 2021 after an FBI tipster identified him, in part, by the “Hershey Christian Academy” sweatshirt that he wore on Jan. 6. The judge allowed Bozell to remain free until he must report to prison at a later date.
After then-President Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, Bozell marched to the Capitol and joined a mob in breaking through a police line. He used a metal object to shatter a window and later entered Nancy Pelosi’s office, leaving with an unidentified object. Bozell also moved a C-SPAN camera to face the ground to prevent the recording of rioters ransacking the chamber. Prosecutors argued for a “terrorism enhancement” to increase Bozell’s recommended prison sentence, but the judge declined to apply it. Defense attorney Eric Snyder stated that Bozell should not be labeled as a terrorist and described him as a good person who made a terrible mistake.
Bozell’s father, L. Brent Bozell III, submitted a letter to the court expressing support for his son and questioning the prosecution’s motives for seeking the terrorism enhancement. More than 1,350 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riot, with over 850 individuals already sentenced. The sentences have ranged from a few days to 22 years in prison for two-thirds of those convicted. Bozell’s case highlights the ongoing legal repercussions for individuals involved in the Capitol riot, as the justice system continues to hold those responsible for their actions on Jan. 6, 2021.
