Donald Trump may spark Jan 6-like violence again, warns judge

Former president Donald Trump may resort to another incident of violence before or after the 2024 presidential election, a federal judge voiced his concerns.

In a courtroom hearing on Thursday, the judge, Rudy Contreras, expressed the possibility of more violence in the lead-up to or aftermath of the 2024 presidential election similar to the January 6 attack on Capitol Hill.

The judge has heard several cases involving people who supported Donald Trump and attacked police officers during the Capitol riot on January 6.

During the hearing, Contreras sentenced Jeffrey Sabol, a geophysicist from Colorado, to over five years in prison. Sabol had told the FBI that he believed the election was stolen and that voting machines were tampered with. He also told the court that he felt deeply patriotic on January 6 and felt compelled to join the events at the Capitol.

The judge mentioned his concern that Donald Trump and his supporters might spark another violent incident, similar to the Capitol attack. He voiced concerns that individuals like Sabol might respond to such calls to action again. The judge said he was worried that Sabol would once again respond if a similar “call” was given.

"It doesn't take much imagination to imagine a similar call coming out in the coming months," Contreras said during the hearing.

Contreras ordered Sabol to pay $32,165.65 in restitution and serve three years of supervised release.

Just five days after the attack, on January 11, 2021, Sabol was apprehended. Prosecutors said that he attempted to erase evidence by destroying his laptop in a microwave oven, disposing of his cellphone in a body of water, and endeavouring to catch a flight to Zurich, Switzerland, before authorities detained him.