Man insults judge who sentenced him to 12 years in prison for attacking police during Capitol riots

WASHINGTON – A New Jersey electrician who repeatedly attacked police officers during the siege of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021 was sentenced Friday to 12 years in prison by a judge who called him “a threat to our society.”

Christopher Joseph Quaglin argued with and insulted U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden before and after the judge gave him one of the longest prison sentences among hundreds of Capitol riot cases.

“You are Trump’s worst mistake of 2016,” Quaglin told McFadden, who was appointed to the court by then-President Donald Trump in 2017.

Quaglin, 38, joined the crowd of Trump supporters who stormed the Capitol. He injured a police officer when he choked and slammed him to the ground. Quaglin assaulted other officers with stolen police shields, metal bike racks and pepper spray. He clashed with police for about three hours while wearing an American flag-themed “Make America Great Again” sweatshirt.

“What a scandal. What a shame,” the judge said.

Quaglin complained about his prison conditions and pushed conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 siege during his rambling courtroom remarks. He also took issue with characterizing the Jan. 6 attack as an insurrection.

“If I wanted to start an insurrection, I would have brought a long gun,” he said.

The judge, who interrupted him after several minutes, told Quaglin that his combative remarks were a “very bad idea” before sentencing.

“It’s kangaroo land,” Quaglin replied.

Prosecutors urged the judge to sentence Quaglin to 14 years in prison. They said he was one of the most violent rioters on Jan. 6, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters disrupted the joint session of Congress aimed at certifying President Joe Biden's 2020 election victory.

The judge found Quaglin guilty of six separate assaults on police. Prosecutors say he hit or pushed about a dozen other officers.

“Quaglin understood the constitutional significance of January 6 and intended to disrupt Congress’ certification of the 2020 election by any means necessary, including violently assaulting police officers for hours,” prosecutors wrote.

About 1,400 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the Capitol riots. Nearly 900 of them were sentenced, around two-thirds to prison terms ranging from a few days to 22 years. Only seven Capitol riot defendants received longer prison sentences than Quaglin, according to an Associated Press review of court records.

McFadden found Quaglin guilty of 14 counts last July after a “bench trial,” meaning the judge decided the case without a jury and based on facts that both sides agreed to before the trial. Such trials allow defendants to retain appeal rights that they waive by pleading guilty.

Quaglin traveled from his home in North Brunswick, New Jersey, to attend then-President Donald Trump's “Stop the Steal” rally near the White House on January 6. Leaving the rally early, Quaglin recorded video of himself walking toward the Capitol wearing a helmet, gas mask and backpack.

After storming the barricades near Peace Circle, Quaglin repeatedly attacked the officers who were trying to hold back the crowd. Capitol Police Sgt. Troy Robinson was injured when Quaglin grabbed him by the neck and slammed him to the ground.

“Quaglin’s attack sparked a short fight,” prosecutors wrote. “With Quaglin on top of Sergeant Robinson, other rioters came to Quaglin's aid and chaos broke loose.”

Quaglin “led a relentless siege” as he joined other rioters in attacking police in a tunnel in the Capitol's Lower West Terrace, prosecutors said. He helped another rioter steal an officer's shield. He sprayed several police officers in the face with pepper spray. And he joined the crowd's collective push against a police cordon.

“Quaglin participated in some of the most horrific attacks in the tunnel as he worked with other rioters to ensure officers were constantly attacked,” prosecutors wrote.

Quaglin then celebrated and bragged about his participation in the riot.

“It was a good time. I had some bumps and bruises. And we're having a good time,” he said in a video posted on social media.

Defense attorney Kristi Fulnecky says Quaglin received inadequate medical care while incarcerated for the past three years. Fulnecky also said one of Quaglin's former attorneys coerced him into agreeing to a bench trial instead of a contested trial.

McFadden told Quaglin his actions on Jan. 6 were “shocking and illegal.”

“January 6 is not just an anomaly for you,” the judge said. “You allowed it to define you.”