CBS News
July 20, 2021
A man from Florida who waved a “Trump 2020” flag on the floor of the Senate chamber on January 6 was sentenced to eight months in prison Monday — the first time a Capitol riot defendant was sentenced for a felony charge.
Paul Hodgkins, a 38-year-old crane operator, pleaded guilty last month to one count of obstruction of an official proceeding, and acknowledged that he took a selfie and joined a group of rioters who assembled at the front of the Senate chamber, with the intention to obstruct the certification of the 2020 Presidential election.
When announcing the sentence — which was less than the 15 to 21 month sentence recommended when Hodgkins pleaded guilty — Judge Randolph Moss called the Capitol attack “an assault on Democracy,” but said Hodgkins’ lack of criminal history and willingness to accept responsibility warranted a lower sentence. Hodgkins’ eight-month prison sentence will be followed by two years of supervised release.