Judge Chutkan Delivers Blow to Capitol Rioter

Judge Tanya Chutkan, tasked with presiding over some of the cases of January 6 defendants, handed her latest blow to a capitol rioter on Tuesday, giving the defendant 14 days in jail.

Supporters of then-President Donald Trump descended on the Capitol on January 6, 2021, in an effort to prevent the official certification of the 2020 election results, which gave Joe Biden the presidency. The former president has continued to claim that the election was "rigged," but has denied stoking the violence that took place at the Capitol.

Stacey Stephens, a 57-year-old, is one of more than 1,146 people who were charged concerning their presence at the grounds that day. Stephens, who pleaded guilty to disorderly conduct, entering or remaining on restricted grounds and demonstrating in a Capitol building, was charged last August after the FBI interviewed Stephens and told agents that she and her mother, Linda Carpenter, went to see then-President Trump speak on the National Mall on January 6. According to her statement, Stephens stated that she entered the U.S. Capitol to protect her elderly mother, to make sure she would remain safe among the crowd.

After pleading guilty, Stephens requested she receive 14 days' in-home incarceration, along with a 36-month term of probation, with 60 hours of community service, and $500 restitution.

However, on Tuesday Chutkan handed Stephens a 14-day sentence to be spent in jail, denying her previous request for probation.

"Defense wanted probation or home confinement. Probation office recommended probation. Prosecutors wanted 14 days jail. Judge Chutkan sentenced Stephens to 14 days jail," CBS News Congressional correspondent, Scott MacFarlane wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

MacFarlane continued to state that Chutkan listened to Stephens' remarks reiterating that she was at the capitol to keep an eye on her mother who was there, but that Chutkan then said, "I don't hear remorse."

"Judge Chutkan leaned into the trauma and fragility of democracy from Jan 6 She tells Stephens: 'I don't hear remorse for the collective trauma this country has suffered', 'I don't see the recognition of the terror and fear'," MacFarlane wrote on X.

According to the New York Times, Chutkan has recently faced criticism when it comes to the several January 6 defendants who have been tried in her courtroom, citing she has brushed aside the government's recommendation of probation or home detention and has instead ordered jail time for those who entered the Capitol that day.

Meanwhile, Chutkan continues to remain firm on her stance as she previously stated, "There have to be consequences for participating in an attempted violent overthrow of the government, beyond sitting at home," Chutkan said while issuing a 45-day prison sentence to another defendant in October 2021.