J6 Praying Grandma Gets Horrible News That Could ‘Financially Destroy Her’
72-year-old Rebecca Lavrenz, dubbed the “J6 praying grandma,” has been hit with a staggering $103,000 fine for her brief presence inside the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021.
This sentence, handed down on Monday, has raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the proportionality of punishments related to the Capitol riot.
Even Elon Musk has called the whole saga, “Not right.”
The Associated Press reported that Lavrenz, who reportedly spent a mere 10 minutes inside the building, was also sentenced to one year’s probation, with the first six months under home confinement and a ban on internet access.
Her attorney, John Pierce of the National Constitutional Law Union, claims this could be “the largest misdemeanor fine in American history,” adding the amount could “financially destroy” Lavrenz.
The Department of Justice initially sought a harsher sentence, including 10 months’ incarceration and 12 months of supervised release, court documents show.
Prosecutors argued that Lavrenz’s “unrepentant promotion of the riot” posed a threat to future political stability. However, Pierce paints a different picture of his client.
“She’s a great-grandmother in her mid-seventies,” Pierce told the Daily Caller, emphasizing that Lavrenz’s intention was simply to pray at the Capitol.
The severity of the punishment has led to the creation of a GiveSendGo fundraiser to help cover her legal fees.
The case has garnered significant attention, with prosecutors accusing Lavrenz of “profiting off the celebrity of her conviction.”
Pierce, however, contends that any notoriety was unintentional and a result of the Department of Justice’s actions.
“I think it’s a function of the fact that the Department of Justice is going after great-grandmothers,” he stated, noting that the case caught the eye of major figures, including President Donald Trump.
The internet ban imposed on Lavrenz is particularly unusual, with Pierce stating he had only encountered such restrictions in cases involving compelling safety concerns, such as child pornography.
This aspect of the sentence adds another layer of controversy to an already contentious case.
Pierce’s law firm, which has represented over 20 January 6 defendants, reports that most of their misdemeanor cases have resulted in no jail time or minor punishments.
“None of them have been fined anywhere near this amount,” Pierce said, comparing Lavrenz’s fine to previous cases where the highest fine was $20,000 for felony assault convictions.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, while acknowledging that Lavrenz’s case is not as serious as others, still described it as “a grave offense.”
Pierce, however, maintains that there was “certainly no indication of any kind of threats” from his client.
This sentence, handed down on Monday, has raised eyebrows and sparked debate about the proportionality of punishments related to the Capitol riot.
Even Elon Musk has called the whole saga, “Not right.”
The Associated Press reported that Lavrenz, who reportedly spent a mere 10 minutes inside the building, was also sentenced to one year’s probation, with the first six months under home confinement and a ban on internet access.
Her attorney, John Pierce of the National Constitutional Law Union, claims this could be “the largest misdemeanor fine in American history,” adding the amount could “financially destroy” Lavrenz.
The Department of Justice initially sought a harsher sentence, including 10 months’ incarceration and 12 months of supervised release, court documents show.
Prosecutors argued that Lavrenz’s “unrepentant promotion of the riot” posed a threat to future political stability. However, Pierce paints a different picture of his client.
“She’s a great-grandmother in her mid-seventies,” Pierce told the Daily Caller, emphasizing that Lavrenz’s intention was simply to pray at the Capitol.
The severity of the punishment has led to the creation of a GiveSendGo fundraiser to help cover her legal fees.
The case has garnered significant attention, with prosecutors accusing Lavrenz of “profiting off the celebrity of her conviction.”
Pierce, however, contends that any notoriety was unintentional and a result of the Department of Justice’s actions.
“I think it’s a function of the fact that the Department of Justice is going after great-grandmothers,” he stated, noting that the case caught the eye of major figures, including President Donald Trump.
The internet ban imposed on Lavrenz is particularly unusual, with Pierce stating he had only encountered such restrictions in cases involving compelling safety concerns, such as child pornography.
This aspect of the sentence adds another layer of controversy to an already contentious case.
Pierce’s law firm, which has represented over 20 January 6 defendants, reports that most of their misdemeanor cases have resulted in no jail time or minor punishments.
“None of them have been fined anywhere near this amount,” Pierce said, comparing Lavrenz’s fine to previous cases where the highest fine was $20,000 for felony assault convictions.
Magistrate Judge Zia Faruqui, while acknowledging that Lavrenz’s case is not as serious as others, still described it as “a grave offense.”
Pierce, however, maintains that there was “certainly no indication of any kind of threats” from his client.
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