Former Air Force Officer Receives Prison Term for Capitol Attack

Larry Rendall Brock Jr., a former Air Force officer, has been sentenced to two years in prison for his participation in the January 6th riot at the U.S. Capitol. Brock was dressed in combat gear and carried zip-tie handcuffs into the Senate gallery during the attack, which occurred shortly after then-Vice President Mike Pence and other government officials had been evacuated from the building.

The Conviction

Brock, a Texas native who lives in Grapevine, a Dallas suburb, graduated from the Air Force Academy and flew combat missions in Afghanistan before retiring from the Air Force Reserve in 2014. He was convicted by U.S. District Judge John Bates in November 2021 after a trial without a jury. The judge noted that Brock had expressed “very troubling” and violent rhetoric before the riot and read aloud several of his social media postings calling for the execution of those who were attempting to steal the election from Republican incumbent Donald Trump.

During the sentencing hearing, prosecutors recommended that Brock be sentenced to five years in prison followed by three years of supervised release. Judge Bates ultimately sentenced Brock to two years in prison, along with two years of supervised release and 100 hours of community service.

Brock’s participation in the January 6th riot is part of a broader effort by supporters of former President Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. Trump had repeatedly made baseless claims that the election was stolen from him, and his supporters, including Brock, echoed these claims in the lead-up to the riot.

The attack on the Capitol was widely condemned by politicians on both sides of the aisle, with many calling it an assault on democracy itself. In the wake of the attack, dozens of people have been arrested and charged with crimes related to the riot, including conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and assaulting police officers.

Matthew Reynolds