Judge slaps Capitol-storming couple with largest fine given to Jan 6 defendants yet: ‘I want the sentence to hurt’

This Friday, a federal judge imposed the largest fine yet in a Capitol riot case, Newsweek reports.

Thomas Vinson and Lori Vinson, who are husband and wife, were sentenced to five years of probation, $500 in restitution and 120 hours of community service for partaking in the riot at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. They were also ordered to pay $5,000 each, which is reportedly the largest fine so far in any Capitol riot case.

“I know that’s a lot, but I want the sentence to hurt,” U.S. District Judge Reggie Walton.

From Newsweek:

In July, the Vinsons pleaded guilty to charges of entering and remaining in a restricted building; disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building; violent entry and disorderly conduct in a Capitol building; and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building.

Both were arrested in Owensboro, Kentucky in late February. Lori Vinson was fired from her job as a nurse after posting a video on social media of herself and others inside the Capitol building in Washington D.C. Shortly after she was fired, she told television station WFIE that she wasn’t sorry for her actions and that she “would do it again tomorrow.”

According to the Courier-Journal, Walton slammed the couple for taking their money “to come all the way up here to D.C. and then let yourselves get involved in a mob situation that should be an embarrassment to anybody in this country.”

Sky Palma

Before launching DeadState back in 2012, Sky Palma has been blogging about politics, social issues and religion for over a decade. He lives in Los Angeles and also enjoys Brazilian jiu jitsu, chess, music and art.