On September 22, 2022, Capitol rioter Timothy Hale-Cusanelli, who pretended to be Adolf Hitler, was sentenced to four years in federal prison for his role in the Capitol assault. The 32-year-old New Jersey Army reserve was among those who invaded the United States Capitol in January 2021. In May, he was convicted after failing to convince the jury that he was unaware Congress was in session at the time. Timothy Hale-Cusanelli was sentenced in the District of Columbia on Thursday. He must pay a $2,000 compensation payment in addition to his jail term.
One of the first rioters to enter the Capitol Building was Timothy Hale-Cusanelli.
According to reports, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli drove to Washington on January 6, 2021. He then joined a rioting crowd that was unlawfully overrunning a police line in an effort to seize the Capitol grounds. Timothy then proceeded to exhort the crowd to “advance” toward the Capitol. Hale-Cusanelli was among the first rioters to enter the Capitol. He also predicted a “revolution” as he made derogatory and abusive statements against Capitol Police officers.
Just a few days after the riots, Timothy Hale-Cusanelli reportedly told a buddy that being in the Capitol was “exhilarating” and that he was cheering for a civil war. He was arrested on January 15, 2021, and in May 2022, a jury found him guilty of the felony charge of impeding an official action and four associated misdemeanors. These included entering and remaining in an off-limits building or area, behaving disorderly and disruptively in an off-limits building or area, acting disorderly in a Capitol Building, and marching, protesting or picketing in a Capitol Building.
Hale-Cusanelli enrolled in the United States Army Reserves and worked as a contractor at a naval weapons station in January 2021. He was said to have “secret” security clearance at the station. However, he has been forbidden from the institution since the incident. Since January 6, 2021, more than 870 persons have been imprisoned in almost all 50 states for charges related to the breach of the US Capitol. This contains over 265 persons accused of assaulting or obstructing law enforcement personnel.
