it was the crowd led by joseph biggs. they joined that group.entences were significant. and that's disappointing. the case was overcharged. the government sought to make a point and it did these men will suffer many years behind bars. >> bret: january 6th defendants convicted and face sentencing some big sentences but, actually, lighter than what the justice department wanted. the capitol riot defendants more than 1100 people charged with federal crimes. more than 600 convicted or sentenced. the four major leaders of the groups, the proud boys and others, 17 years for joseph biggs today. 15 years for zachery rieh. and you see these cases. we're back with the panel. byron, they are facing a lot of charges mainly seditious conspiracy. but these are significant times behind bars. your thoughts on this process and what we have seen about how these cases are moving forward? >> yeah. a lot -- some january 6th reuters engaged in really ugly fights and attacks on the police. it's not hard to support significant punishment for them. but this seems to be

the prosecution had requested 33 years for joseph biggs. they did not get that, obviously. but this is just one of a number of proud boys that we're going to see sentenced here at this federal courthouse in the coming days. you have enrico tarrio ethan nordian hearing their sentences. one of the things the prosecutors argued members of the proud boys were vanguards of political violence for a number of years, and that's one reason they believe the violence at the capitol, just a few hundreds yards from where i'm standing, deserved to be treated this severely. 17 years is what the judge ended up deciding on. jim and brianna? >> of course the open question is, donald trump now on trial for his involvement, will he face consequences? turning to health questions surrounding one of the most powerful men here in washington, senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, is now privately reassuring his allies and donors he's fine. this after he froze during a news conference yesterday, the second time this summer this has played out in front of the cameras. >> running for re-election in

joseph biggs is the organizer, and was an organizer with the group in florida.ot with violence, but he did enter the capitol, and right now, what the judge is saying that the conduct of the members of the proud boys that day it was not spontaneous aggression, and were in his view helping to push the mob into the u.s. capitol. and we have heard testimony from the officers who were on the recei receiving viving end, and one of them said, i was not sure i was going home for first time in my life, and that officer said that she was not sure that she would be going home, because of the violence carried out. as you pointed out, five of the members will be sentenced in the coming days. the prosecution has asked for at least, at least 30 year for each of them. one of the things that the prosecutors i have for their reand they were at the vanguard of political force who sought to change course of history january 6th, and of course, the violence happening right across here be the u.s. capitol is a few hundred yards from where i am standing. and again, joseph biggs is the

joseph biggs, a military veteran, tearful today, pleading for leniency before receiving one of the longe eest sentences far. here's abc's martha raddatz. >> reporter: tonight, despite tearful pleas in court, former proud boys lieutenant joseph biggs now sentenced to 17 years for what the judge called his role in a national disgrace. the second-longest sentence imposed in the more than 1,100 criminal cases resulting from the january 6th attack on the u.s. capitol. biggs, an army veteran, was convicted of seditious conspiracy for plotting the riot with other leaders of the far right group. >> so we just stormed the [ bleep ] capital. >> reporter: this video of biggs outside the capitol on january 6th was shown during his trial, as well as this selfie from inside the senate chamber. prosecutors said biggs had been an "influential proponent of the group's shift toward political violence" after donald trump lost the election. ultimately, prosecutors argued, he was party to the first breach of the capitol's perimeter, and even after the attack, declared it a "warning shot to the government." t

over the capital rise, prosecutor said joseph biggs was a key figure in the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. this is one of the longest sentences handed out in the january 6 cases north korea and has launched to ballistic missiles and what it calls a simulated nuclear strike. the missiles probably more than 360 kilometers before landing in the sea of the east coast con guns. ballistic missiles are banned in that by the un security council, which has imposed sanctions on the regime. or some sports news they draw. so the groups, the age of the champions league has taken place and it's set up some multiple trick match shops for the, for the golf clubs, taking out hurry kinds buying munich, heading a group that includes manchester, united, and, uh, on the, on a value in making that view and the competition will have to contend with a couple of heavy hitters and not fully. and reco champions, real madrid adult montague draw on the group of death with powers sounds um uh, and the 7th time european cup champions. ac milan lights, they will have the pleasure of going up ag

sentences there to now tell us more about the court's decision. indeed, the sentences handed down to joseph biggs and zachary rail are along the harshest. so handed down in these cases related to january 6 of which by the way, they are over a 1000 now. and this really has to do with the gravity with which the judge saw the rules and instigating the attack on the capital. so basically what the judge said, the judge in this case, timothy kelly said that this was a national disgrace. that january 6th, a harm to the a convent and american convention that supported the rule of law and the constitution that so an american tradition around the peaceful transfer of power had been broken and has been lost. in the big's case, he cited a big's role in tearing down barriers that allowed writers to search forward. and to him that was a meaningful and deliberate step to disrupt the electoral vote ongoing in the capital at that time. and the rails, casey sided, how rail sprayed police officers with chemical irritants. now both man cried in the court room. biggs said that his daughter needed them. real said that

joseph biggs, with a key figure and the violent attempt to overturn the 2020 election results. this is one of the longest sentences handed out in the capital ariah cases to date, bigs and for other proud boys. members were already convicted of seditious conspiracy. in may a nobody is, janelle de malone and washington has the course reasoning for the decision. this is one of the harshest penalties handed out and relations of january 6 cases worth pointing out there over a 1000 of these cases. and it really has to do with a gravity with which the judge saw big's as role in helping to instigate the attack on the capital. he the judge, in this case, the judge timothy kelly called it a national disgrace. he says that that day harmed an american custom that was meant to support the rule of law and the constitution. he said that it harmed the american tradition of the peaceful transfer of power, and that, that tradition is now lost. he also said that because big a torrent tore down a fence that allowed writers to get through with that that represented a deliberate and meaningful step

they also want the same punishment for one of those lieutenants, joseph biggs. slightly lesser prison terms for two others. all four were convicted of seditious conspiracy. >> we now to idaho, where the man accused of murdering four college students expected in court today. some contentious issues are on the agenda for brian coburn pretrial hearing and it comes after coburn filed to have his murder case thrown out this morning. lawyers for the man accused of killing four university of idaho students is asking his indictment to be dismissed, arguing the case was flawed because the grand jury was not given the right information. but prosecutors say coburn argument rests entirely on an erroneous legal theory. it comes as brian burger makes a court appearance today charged with four counts of first degree murder. his defense team is fighting the science that led to his arrest. >> one of the main legs of this prosecution is the dna of brian kobilka that was discovered inside the house. if you can take that out, the prosecution can't stand. >> prosecutors say coburn d

. >> reporter: prosecutors said joseph biggs and his coconspirators were the driving force behind violence boasted about storming the building. >> january 6th will be a day in infamy. >> reporter: but today he wept in court and handed a 17 year sentence, imprisoned alongside proud boys leader enrique tarrio, engaging in seditious conspiracy to keep then-president donald trump in office. biggs said "i am not a terrorist but i know i have to be punished." judge timothy kelly said they brought a mob into heel. alalso sentetenced todayay, zachary y rehl, preresident of e philadelphphia chapter of the proud boys, seen here with biggs peered [chanting] he was sentenced to 15 years, less than the 30 prosecutors wanted. they say rehl spent weeks organizing the capital attacks. in a separate trial, january 6 defendant brandon fellows was convicted on five counts but jurors revealed they are concerned about personal safety, writing to judge trevor mcfadden, fellows does not have any of their personal information usually shared with attorneys on both sides. fellows is rep resenting himself in court.

and then others, joseph biggs and other leaders, 33 years, zachary reels, 30 years. years. to compare this, the leader of the oath keepers, stewart rhodes, received a sentence of 18 years in prison, and the justice department asked for 25. and so the justice department wants things to be more significant for the proud boys because of the revolutionary role that they played. they called them political vanguards in this country. people at forefront of political violence for quite some time. >> yeah, notably, katelyn, you also have some reporting on a potential appeal that could undue sentences for other january 6 rioters? >> yeah, we actually got a decision today from the appeal's court in washington, d.c., a federal court, that decided a rioter, a man named james little, who had been sentenced both to some prison time, a short amount of prison time, and probation that he could not have both of those sentences at the same time because he was convicted of a petty offense, a misdemeanor. so there are many rioters who were convicted of misdemeanors, these petty offenses,

they're asking for 33 years for joseph biggs, zachary reel, another man who bashed in a window, one ofcourt document was a reminder when you read it just how serious the violence was on january 6th, how there was now asserted by a jury's finding here, that there was an effort of people who came together who plotted out how they would lead a mob inside the capitol if they had the opportunity. the justice department wrote about these four members of the proud boys convicted of seditious conspiracy. they brought that army of violence to the capitol to exert their political will. for years these defendants intentionally positioned themselves at the vanguard of political violence in this country. they brought that violence to the capitol on january 6 in an effort to change the course of american history, and the sentences imposed by this court should reflect the seriousness of their offenses. so the seriousness should not be lost of january 6 as we head forward and still watching them be sentenced in court. this sentencing will not happen for another couple of weeks. it is certainly a court

joseph biggs, 33 years. what the prosecutors wanted. he only got 17. zachary rehl, 30, he got 15. who calls himself elmer, 25 years, got 18. what do you make of the fact they're all getting much lower than what was asked for? >> i think it's not only what was asked for. it's what we call the sentencing guidelines. any time anyone gets sentences, we use a book. you look at the regulations and tell the judge, everyone agrees, here's what this crime and this conduct should have. here's the range that courts should consider. so what the courts have been doing is going under what the regulations and the rules basically recommend. here, it was 27 to 33 years. so the government asked for what the rules say. and i think that the court was going under because one of the main reasons, what the court wanted consistency with other similarly situated defendants. if folks are getting 17, 18, the court wants to go not too far from that. if i'm former president trump, i'm thinking about those same rules that say you need similar sentences for similar conduct, i think i'm going to be thinking abou

he sentenced joseph biggs to 17 years in prison. he was an organizer for the group in florida. in the case of zachary reel he's gotten 15 years. the government was asking for more than 30 years apiece for each man. they were convicted on charges including seditious conspiracy. they both spoke to the court. they asked for some leniency. both of them tearfully talked about what they were losing, essentially the chance to see their daughters grow up. something that obviously weighed heavily on everyone in the courtroom. but in the end the judge pointed out that these men had taken politics, taken it to a new level and had caused a great deal of damage to the american legal system as a result of what they did, jake. >> all right. evan perez, thank you so much. another court loss for trump wingman rudy giuliani. the disgraced lawyer making headline after headline after losing a defamation lawsuit from two georgia election workers whom he smeared during the 2020 election and its aftermath. giuliani singled out these two civil servants, ruby freeman and shaye moss, falsely accusing th

a proud boys lieutenant joseph biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison today for ze decision conspiracy. that's the second longest sentence to date. it's short of what the doj requested. they wanted 33 years. enrique tarrio's sentencing will take place next tuesday. this is not a full accountability. there are still member of congresss and other official who is may have played a role in january 6th, but we can say it's a start. trump continues to violate the law and threaten public officials for simply doing their job, telling conservative media host glenn beck he would lock up his opponents if he got re-elected. >> if you're president again, will you lock people up? >> well, i'll give you an example, the answer is you have no choice because they're doing it to us. >> joining me now is christy greenberg, former sdny prosecutor and kurt barella. thank you very much for joining us today. i'll start with this. kristy, i keep pointing this out because i think it's a part of actual accountability -- we have this twice-impeached now multiple times indicted president going on air repeatedly sa

the doj is making the same ask for tarrio's codefendant, a man by the name of joseph biggs, also convicted on the same six counts. they also want biggs to serve 33 years. for his role as a quote, vocal leader, and influential proponent of the groups shift towards political violent. bigs they say, acted as the tip of the spear throughout the attack on january 6th. he was among the first wave across the first street barrier. he was among the first riders at the capital of breach for. he reentered a second time and travel directly to the seventh chamber. prosecutors are requesting a 30 year sentence for proud boys, zachary rehl, government says that he led a march of approximately 200 through the washington monument to the capitol on january 6th. he also encouraged riders that the initial breach, yelling, fm, storm the capital. and personally assaulted law enforcement officers with a chemical irritant spray while he was on the grounds of the capitol. ethan nordean, another leader of the proud boys on january 6th, convicted of the same crimes. prosecutors want to serve 27 years in prison. he a

former proud boys leader, joseph biggs was sentenced to 17 years in prison.s, just one year short of the 18-year sentence handed down to oath keepers founder, stewart rhodes. a sentencing hearing for zach rule is happening right now, he's the head of the philadelphia chapter of the proud boys, that is currently underway. joining me from outside the district courthouse, nbc news justice reporter, ryan reilly. in the case of biggs, the governor asked for 33 years, got 17. did the judge offer a reasoning, and remind us what we're waiting for with zach. i think the government is asking for 30 years for him? >> reporter: that's right. so with joe biggs, he said terrorism should apply, but this wasn't equal to the type of conduct you might expect in other terrorism cases saying, you know, how would you compare an attack on a skyscraper to what happened on january 6th. the government was arguing of course that there was these broader repercussions even if you set aside the body count question about the january 6th attack. this was an attack on democracy. that it str

federal prosecutors wanted 33 years in prison for joseph biggs , who was sentenced today in d.c. prosecutors say he helped lead dozens of proud boys, members and associates on january 6th of 2021. oath keepers founder stewart rhodes got 18 years in his case. also new at noon, we have an update on senate minority leader mitch mcconnell, who froze up during an interview yesterday in kentucky. the attending physician to congress says he cleared mcconnell to continue with his planned schedule after an evaluation on senator mcconnell remains silent for about 30s. during a news conference yesterday, almost a month after he had a similar episode in washington in march, he suffered a concussion and broke a rib after falling and hitting his head after a dinner event at a hotel, all in a move to combat the opioid crisis in america. the life saving, also s narcan, will now be av for purchase over the counter. ryan jenness has the details from new york city. this is an epidemic. this is an emergency. for the first time ever over-the-counter naloxone or narcan is being shipped out to pharmaci

. >>> joseph biggs' rhetoric turned to the capitol police.chanting -- [ bleep ] antifa. they ripped the first barricade down and they approached our bike racks. i felt the bike rack come on top of my head and i was pushed backwards. at that point blacked out. but my back of my head clipped the concrete stairs behind me. >> that was capitol police officer caroline edwards testifying before the january 6th select committee about the role joe biggs played as a member of the proud boys in the violent attack that took place at the u.s. capitol on january 6th. well, today biggs and fellow member of the proud boys zachary rehl were sentenced to prison for their role in the insurrection after being convicted of charges, including seditious conspiracy. biggs, a proud boys event organizer from the state of florida, received 17 years in prison, the second longest sentence handed down to date. prosecutors had asked for 33 years, which would have been a record sentence for a january 6th defendant. rehl received 15 years in prison. prosecutors had requeste