On Election Day 2024, the repercussions of the 2020 election riots by Donald Trump supporters continue to unfold. A man who was present at the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and later involved in an anti-government group, was sentenced to probation on Tuesday.
Fi Duong from Northern Virginia pleaded guilty to a civil disorder felony for entering the Capitol building while wearing all-black clothing and a mask. Post the attack, Duong hosted meetings at his residence where discussions on seceding from the US, making Molotov cocktails, and surveilling the Capitol took place. However, he did not face charges related to the group activities.
Prosecutors expressed concern over Duong's participation in the riot, labeling it as a betrayal of his oath as a Marine and a form of American domestic extremism. Judge Paul Friedman of the DC District Court, known for sentencing numerous January 6 rioters, believed Duong would not reoffend and emphasized the lifelong consequences of a felony conviction.
Despite facing no jail time due to his compliance with court orders during the waiting period, Duong was sentenced to 36 months of probation, a $2,000 restitution towards the Capitol, and 50 hours of community service. Currently employed at a go-kart track, Duong is responsible for caring for his wife and special needs child.
During the sentencing, Judge Friedman refrained from injecting political undertones related to the January 6 attack, diverging from previous rioter sentencings where judges criticized the extremist political environment fostered by Trump. Duong's defense lawyer highlighted the enduring consequences of being a felon, including the loss of rights and the inability to hold elected office.
Expressing remorse for his actions, Duong's lawyer emphasized the ineffectiveness of general deterrence in cases involving crimes of ideology. The sentencing serves as a reminder of the lasting impact of the Capitol riot and the legal ramifications faced by those involved.
