A Florida man and ex-police officer, Nathaniel Tuck, was sentenced to 14 months in prison last Wednesday, in connection with the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. Tuck's guilty plea to both felony and misdemeanor charges was for disrupting the Congressional session meant to certify the 2020 election results, according to an announcement from the Department of Justice.
Tuck, 32, identified as a member of the "Space Coast" chapter of the Proud Boys, was also sentenced to 36 months of supervised release, and he must pay fines and restitution totaling $4,000 by U.S. District Judge Timothy J. Kelly. The joint session they sought to disrupt was ascertaining and counting the Presidential electoral votes. Formerly serving as a police officer, Tuck joined approximately 100 Proud Boys as they marched on the Capitol and clashed with law enforcement.
On that January day, Tuck and his group were reported to have breached officer lines. They entered the Capitol grounds around 12:52 p.m. Making their way from the west side of the building to the east, they eventually overcame a line of officers at roughly 2:16 p.m. Tuck, along with his co-defendants, continued towards the Capitol building, reaching the Senate Carriage Door just minutes later. Among his group, Tuck was the only one to forcefully make his way past the law enforcement barrier, even making contact with at least one officer.
While inside the Capitol, Nathaniel Tuck reportedly engaged in confrontational behavior toward officers, calling them “communists” and staying within the building for nearly an hour, as stated in the Justice Department's announcement. On exiting the Capitol, he took a picture with his group—a gesture of victory—and boasted in text messages about fighting the police. Tuck's stance on the political situation was made clear in messages shared with family, stating, “Violence is the only way we will win,” a stark contrast to the ideals of the democratic process and civil discourse.
The investigation into the Capitol riot that has spanned over four years is being led by the FBI along with assistance from the U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department. More than 1,583 individuals across the nation have been charged for their actions on Jan. 6, with over 600 of these charges relating to assaulting or obstructing law enforcement. The Department of Justice emphasizes that the investigation is ongoing, and encourages anyone with information to contact the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI or through their online tip portal.
