Michael Sparks, the epitome of misguided zealotry among Capitol rioters, received a 53-month prison sentence on Tuesday after an astonishing display of stupidity in court. Sparks, who was the first to illegally breach the United States Capitol on January 6th, 2021, made headlines not just for his actions but for his jaw-dropping defense.
According to CBS News’ Scott MacFarlane, Sparks told Judge Timothy Kelly he was “remorseful” about storming the Capitol—but not for the reasons you’d expect. No, Sparks was regretful only because his grandiose attempt to derail the certification of the 2020 election was a failure.
In a move that could only be described as profoundly tone-deaf, Sparks admitted he was “remorseful” that his actions “didn’t help anything” and lamented the state of the country without actually understanding why it was in such a state.
Sparks’ insisted that he felt no remorse for actually going to the Capitol to “make his voice heard.” His comments revealed an utter lack of self-awareness and a stunning inability to grasp the gravity of his actions.
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Judge Timothy Kelly, showing remarkable patience, pointed out to Sparks that January 6th was “a national disgrace” and made it clear that there was nothing remotely patriotic about his criminal behavior. Kelly stressed the historical significance of the day and the damage done to the peaceful transition of power, something Sparks seemed blissfully ignorant of.
“It snapped our previously unbroken record of the peaceful transition of power,” Kelly emphasized. “I don’t think you appreciate the full gravity of what happened that day.”
Federal prosecutors had initially sought a 57-month sentence for Sparks, who had previously boasted he was willing to “die” for Trump. Given Sparks’ spectacular display of idiocy and disregard for reality, the sentence he received seems fittingly lenient.
