‘Zip Tie Man’ and his mom get jail phrases in Jan. 6 riot

A Tennessee man and his mom have been sentenced to jail Friday for looking for to intimidate lawmakers by marching with matching tactical vests and carrying zip tie-style handcuffs throughout the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the U.S. Capitol, federal prosecutors stated.

The person, Eric Munchel, 32, of Nashville, who turned identified on social media as “Zip Tie Man,” was sentenced to just about 5 years in jail, the Justice Division stated. His mom, Lisa Marie Eisenhart, 59, of Woodstock, Georgia, was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in jail, the division stated.

They have been fined $2,000 every, and their jail phrases shall be adopted by 2 1/2 years of supervised launch.

The 2 have been discovered responsible in April of conspiracy to commit obstruction, obstruction of an official continuing, disorderly conduct in a Capitol constructing and parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol constructing, in accordance with court docket paperwork.

Munchel was additionally discovered responsible of two different felonies associated to carrying weapons on Capitol grounds.

Munchel, carrying paramilitary gear, traveled along with his mom to Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, and left the Grand Hyatt that afternoon, in accordance with court docket paperwork.

Eisenhart, carrying a flannel shirt beneath her tactical vest and a purple “Hold America Nice Once more” beanie, and her son had “ready for violence on Jan. 6 and projected their willingness to interact in it” by carrying tactical vests, prosecutors stated.

Their attorneys didn’t instantly reply to calls looking for remark Friday night, however they defended their purchasers in court docket filings as Individuals who had discovered themselves caught up within the occasions of that day and had no ailing intent.

Munchel’s lawyer, Joseph Allen, wrote in a sentencing memo that Munchel “regrets his illegal conduct and has accepted accountability for it, actions which reveal his character.”

Eisenhart’s lawyer, Gregory Smith, stated in a court docket submitting that tactical gear “could be worn for defensive or offensive causes,” and that his shopper had been “law-abiding, respectful and compliant” ever since she turned herself in to the FBI weeks after Jan. 6, 2021.

As Choose Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Courtroom for the District of Columbia sentenced them, Eisenhart locked arms together with her son whereas each stood collectively at a podium, The Related Press reported.

Greater than 1,100 folks from almost all 50 states have been arrested in reference to crimes associated to the Capitol riot, in accordance with the Justice Division.

On Jan. 6, 2021, Munchel and Eisenhart “noticed different rioters preventing with police and inspired them to take action,” the Justice Division stated.

They pushed previous police traces, entered the Capitol constructing and stole zip tie handcuffs from the U.S. Capitol Police, utilizing them to implicitly threaten members of Congress as soon as they reached the Senate chamber, prosecutors argued.

They then “brazenly declared to a reporter that their intent in storming and coming into the Capitol was to intimidate Congress,” court docket information state.

Munchel additionally carried a Taser and “different weapons” into the Capitol constructing, in accordance with court docket information, which didn’t elaborate on the weapons.

Courtroom information present some perception into the mother-son dynamic that performed out that day, with each egging one another on as they inspired different rioters to additionally advance and achieve floor.

After they joined different rioters outdoors the Capitol constructing, Munchel had affixed to his chest a cellphone to report his actions and people of his mom, who at one level, court docket information state, was heard yelling, “Push, push!” and “Combat ‘em!”

At one level throughout the riot, Eisenhart supplied a phrase of recommendation to her son as they made their option to the Capitol.

“We’re going straight to federal jail if we go in there with weapons,” she instructed Munchel, in accordance with court docket information.

“Yeah,” he replied. “That’s why I’m not getting into there.”

They shed a few of their weapons earlier than coming into the Capitol, prosecutors stated.

When officers who have been overwhelmed by rioters started to retreat, Eisenhart instructed her son, “Let’s go,” they usually resumed their advance.

At one other level, they talked concerning the presence of pepper spray within the air, and folks round them may very well be heard coughing on Munchel’s recording.

He instructed his mom to cowl her face with a bandanna as a result of “it’s going to get spicy.”

Prosecutors stated that “the illegality and impression of their actions was not misplaced on” Munchel or Eisenhart, who was heard saying within the Senate Gallery that she was going to get arrested “proper this minute.”

Earlier than leaving, Munchel instructed his mom to get rid of the zip ties, prosecutors stated. They spent about 12 minutes contained in the Capitol.

He was arrested on Jan. 10, 2021.

On Jan. 7, 2021, Munchel and his mom each gave interviews to The Occasions of London.

“What’s America for?” Eisenhart instructed the paper. “I’d slightly die as a 57-year-old lady than dwell below oppression. I’d slightly die and would slightly battle.”

This text initially appeared in The New York Occasions.