Easterday sentenced to 30 months in prison

Mary Beth Sallee

Managing Editor

Hart Co. News Herald

 

Israel James Easterday, age 23 of Munfordville, was recently sentenced in United States District Court to 30 months in prison, as well as 500 hours of community service. He was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.

According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) website, Easterday was convicted in October of 2023 of six felonies and three misdemeanors related to his conduct during the January 6, 2021 breach of the United States Capitol. The felony charges included: two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers using a dangerous weapon; engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon; and civil disorder. The misdemeanor charges included: parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building; an act of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings; and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building.

As reported on the DOJ website: “Easterday traveled from Kentucky to Washington, D.C., because he was upset about what he perceived as government corruption related to the 2020 presidential election. He then joined the mob that stormed the Capitol building’s east side while wearing a black beanie with the logo “I ♥ TRUMP” and carrying a Confederate battle flag. At approximately 2:30 p.m., members of Congress, Senators, and their staffs were still inside the Capitol building and in the process of being evacuated. At that same time, Easterday was among the mob of rioters just outside the Capitol building’s East Rotunda doors as rioters persistently tried to enter the building, using objects like a flagpole, among other items, to smash the windows of those doors. A small group of U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) officers, with their backs against the wall, were all that stood in the rioters’ way. As one of those USCP officers dealt with another rioter, Easterday blasted the officer in the face with pepper spray, injuring and temporarily incapacitating the officer. A few minutes later, the officer collapsed, which enabled another rioter to steal his baton. Soon thereafter, an unknown rioter handed Easterday a second can of pepper spray, which Easterday—smiling—used to indiscriminately spray another small group of officers, hitting at least one of them in the face. That officer, too, was temporarily incapacitated. A few minutes later, the rioters succeeded in breaching the East Rotunda doors. At approximately 2:39 p.m., Easterday illegally entered the Capitol building through those doors and then grabbed multiple other rioters and pulled them into the building with him. From there, Easterday climbed the Gallery Stairs to the Capitol building’s third floor, which he roamed before returning to the East Rotunda doors and exiting at about 2:51 p.m.”

Easterday was arrested by FBI agents on December 8, 2022 in Miami, Florida.

In the time since January 6, 2021, over 1,100 individuals have been charged for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol. More than 400 individuals have been charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with tips can call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.