Alan Hostetter, a former California police chief who called on President Donald Trump’s political enemies to be executed, was sentenced in December 2023 to more than 11 years in federal prison.
He was found guilty in July 2023 of conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding, obstruction of an official proceeding, entering or remaining on restricted grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, and disorderly or disruptive conduct on restricted grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon, the U.S. Department Justice said in a press release.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-california-police-chief-convicted-joining-us-capitol-protest-jan-6
Hostetter, in the aftermath of President Trump’s defeat in the presidential election, gave a number of speeches where he demanded that Trump remain in office and called for the execution of those responsible for Joe Biden’s election.
“There must — absolutely must — be a reckoning. There must be justice. President Trump must be inaugurated on January 20th, and he must be allowed to finish this historic job of cleaning out the corruption in the cesspool known as Washington, D.C.,” Hostetter said. “The enemies and traitors of America, both foreign and domestic, must be held accountable. And they will. There must long prison terms, while execution is the just punishment for the ringleaders of this coup.”
Hostetter told a crowd in December 2020 that he intended to go to Washington, D.C. on January 6, when Congress would certify the results of the election to: “choke that city off, fill it with patriots, and then those people behind the walls of the Senate and the House are gonna be listening to us chanting outside those walls.”
He further added that he wanted members of Congress to know that “those five million people outside the walls are gonna drag us out by our hair and tie us to a f— lamp post.”
I have no idea what he was talking about, but he was plenty angry, I’ll tell you that.
Hostetter drove across the country with tactical gear, a helmet, hatchets, knives, stun batons, pepper spray, and other gear for himself and others.
He didn’t fly, thinking that all stuff might tip off airport security. Shrewd.
Yes, he brought a hatchet to what GOP insurrection apologists called a “nonviolent” protest.
GOP members of Congress say that Hostetter brought a hatchet to Washington, D.C.. to re-enact George Washington’s cutting down of a cherry tree.
https://www.mountvernon.org/library/digitalhistory/digital-encyclopedia/article/cherry-tree-myth/
No one really said that.
But, if they had, it would not have made the top one hundred of the most foolish things said about the insurrection by GOP politicians.
Hostetter attended President Trump’s speech at the Ellipse and then walked toward the U.S. Capitol with other Trump supporters. Using a bullhorn, he directed rioters to advance on the Capitol. He pushed past law enforcement, moved through restricted areas of the grounds, and climbed onto scaffolding covering a set of stairs leading to the Inaugural stage.
Hostetter later posted a picture of himself taken from the Upper West Terrace to his Instagram account, saying: “This was the shot heard round the world! . . . the 2021 version of 1776. That war lasted 8 years. We are just getting started.”
The FBI arrested Hostetter in California in June 2021.
U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth told Hostetter during sentence that no reasonable person — including veteran police officer like himself — could think it was legal to use mob violence to obstruct Congress.
“Belief that your actions are for a greater good does not negate consciousness of wrongdoing,” Lamberth said.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/former-california-police-chief-convicted-joining-us-capitol-protest-jan-6
There is apparently nothing so aberrant that 2024 GOP presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy can’t make even more aberrant.
Ramaswamy added to the insanity of the right wing’s defense of the January 6, 2020, insurrection during a GOP debate in December 2023, by calling the insurrection “an inside job.”
Hostetter referred to Ramaswamy’s comment during his sentencing.
“These conspiracy theories are no longer fringe,” he said.
Here’s what we know to be true:
Hostetter organized rioters to come to Washington, D.C.
Hostetter called for an insurrection.
Hostetter called for the execution of those involved in the election.
Hostetter, by his own words and actions, conspired to obstruct the certification of the election.
He brought a hatchet to the insurrection.
Here’s something else we know to be true:
Vivek Ramaswamy is a few nuts shy of a pecan log.
