On January 6th, 2021, the world watched in disbelief as the US Capitol was attacked, leading to chaos, injuries, and a nation in turmoil. Among the multitude of participants in this tragic event were two Chicago brothers, Daniel Leyden, a former Park District electrician, and his sibling, Joseph Leyden. The brothers have now been sentenced to prison for their involvement in the violent assault, with Daniel receiving a 38-month sentence and Joseph sentenced to six months behind bars according to the Chicago Tribune.
This pair from Illinois was caught in the whirlwind of misguided ideology and mob fury that day. They traveled to Washington to attend then-President Donald Trump's "Stop the Steal" rally. Little did they realize the irreversible consequences of getting swept away in the chaos ensuing that day, as reported by the Chicago Sun-Times. Daniel Leyden played a key role in the mob that broke through the police barricade at the Peace Monument, pushing against the metal barricade alongside his brother and other rioters, ultimately causing injuries to multiple officers.
In a recent court filing, prosecutors stated that images from video footage showed Daniel lifting up barricades and pushing against the police line until it broke. His actions led to an officer suffering a concussion that still affects her today with "random losses of consciousness," while another officer received a severe leg injury. Joseph Leyden, on the other hand, was charged for a later confrontation, where he admitted in a plea agreement to rushing towards and pushing a Metropolitan Police Department officer as per the Chicago Tribune.
But who were these men before that fateful day, and how did they become entangled in such a disastrous event? Described as hardworking family men, they had gone to Washington to see Trump "one last time as president" and not to overthrow the election or start a riot according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Daniel Leyden's attorney, Thomas Leinenweber, stated that his client "got swept away by the mob, and with it, so too did most of his better judgment and character."
As a consequence of these charges, Daniel Leyden lost his job as an electrician with the Park District, which he had held since 1999. The Leyden brothers are now among the 40 Illinoisans charged in the Capitol breach, an ongoing investigation that prosecutors have described as the largest criminal investigation in the country's history according to the Chicago Tribune.
