A former New York City police officer who assaulted police during the Jan. 6, 2021 riots at the U.S. Capitol in Washington was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison, the harshest sentence handed down in connection with the attack.
Thomas Webster, 56, a 20-year NYPD veteran who also served in the Marine Corps, was found guilty in May of assaulting a Washington D.C., officer during the chaotic gathering. He was captured on video hitting the officer with a flag pole during the uprising as supporters of former President Donald Trump sought to overturn his 2020 election loss.
“As a former Marine and retired police officer, Thomas Webster could readily see the growing dangers to law enforcement when he and other members of the mob targeted the Capitol on January 6th,” said U.S. Attorney Matthew M. Graves. “He chose to escalate the situation, brutally going on the attack. Today’s sentence holds him accountable for his repeated attacks of an officer that day.”
Webster, who was seething in rage, was calling the police officer a “f—king piece of s—t” and a “Commie motherf—ker,” federal prosecutors said.
A federal jury rejected arguments that Webster acted in self-defense.
“I too wish you hadn’t come to Washington, D.C. I too wish you had stayed at home in New York … that you had not come out to the Capitol that day, because all of us would be far better off. Not just you … your family … the country,” D.C. federal Judge Amit Mehta reportedly said during sentencing.
Retired NYPD officer, Thomas Webster, dubbed the 'eye gouger' has turned himself into the FBI after his Manhattan apartment was raided. He, as seen in the photo, attempted to gauge the eyes of a Capitol police officer and swung a pipe at officers. Well done folks. pic.twitter.com/HQzjCmfjZ0
— R.P. McSmurphy (@FlyinSparxx) February 23, 2021
Webster retired from the New York Police Department in 2011 and was assigned to a uniformed detail that protected both City Hall and Gracie Mansion, the mayor’s residence, a police source said.
Well done Tom Webster!!…know ya won’t see this….the real enemy was that kommunista p.o….as he works for kommie’s….only good kommie is a dead one… worked in last century…will undoubtedly again…they didn’t give shit about your life…Ashli Babbitt!! AATNYA!!
Take a good look at the picture, Who is holding the pipe?
Watch the video. This guy was in a RAGE and got what he deserved—–unlike most of the rest of the rioters.
A “flimsy” hand held aluminum flag “pole” staff or what ever you call it but it’s not a pipe. I have one on my golf cart and it’s all bent up then folded in half for some unknown reason.
Very regrettable and despicable that he gets 10 years for that. It seems that Democrats get house arrest or a community service.
If it were not for American Airlines I would’ve been in DC too.
HE SHOULD HAVE SNAPPED THAT COPS NECK.
Why? What did the cop do to merit that kind of treatment? Was he not doing his job?
And yet, the police officer that struck an unarmed woman in the head with his baton and she eventually died from the beating, was promoted. Where is equal justice under the law?