A Jan. 6 defendant told a federal judge that the sentence he handed down will not matter because Donald Trump is going to pardon him.
Philip Sean Grillo of Queens, New York was found guilty of five charges by a federal jury in Washington, D.C last year for his role in the Capitol attack.
The charges include entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building. He was also found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding which is a felony.
On Friday, U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth sentenced Grillo to one year in prison and one year of supervised release.
As he was being handcuffed, Grillo yelled, “Trump’s gonna pardon me anyways,” according to CNN.
Trump has repeatedly promised to pardon Jan. 6 defendants convicted for storming the US Capitol to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.
“I will do my job as I’m bound by oath to do, and the president will do his. It’s as simple as that,” Lamberth said Friday. He added that the delivery of justice was worth the effort, “no matter the political winds of the day.”
CNN also reported that Grillo had two friends present at his sentencing, who said they were Republican Party officials in the Bronx and Queens. They claimed to be in contact with Trump’s transition team about a pardon.
“Don’t worry, Phil. Donald’s gonna take care of you,” one of the men shouted as Grillo left the courtroom.
