A California man was sentenced on Friday to 20 years in prison for attacking police officers with flagpoles and other items during the Capitol riot in 2021, marking the second-longest prison sentence handed down in Jan. 6 cases.
David Dempsey, who wore an American flag gaiter that covered his face during the riot, pleaded guilty to two charges of assaulting police officers. He admitted to going on a violent spree in the Capitol tunnel during which he hit police with poles and other makeshift weapons, pepper sprayed police, and caused “significant injury” to two officers.
Dempsey also admitted to shouting obscenities at police, such as “you f***in’ pieces of s***,” and to recording himself outside the Capitol in front of mock gallows suggesting officials should be hanged. Among the people Dempsey targeted were former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) and former FBI Director…
