Far-right influencer known as ‘Baked Alaska’ sentenced over Capitol attack

Anthime Gionet, a far-right social media personality known to followers as Baked Alaska, was sentenced on Tuesday to two months in prison for his participation in the US Capitol attack - participation he live-streamed.

In court in Washington DC, the US district judge Trevor McFadden told Gionet, 35: "You did everything you could to publicise your misconduct. You were there encouraging and participating fully in what was going on."

Gionet did not address the court.

On 6 January 2021, rioters breached the Capitol in service of Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election via the lie that Joe Biden's win was the result of electoral fraud.

Gionet broadcast to around 16,000 followers from locations including the office of Jeff Merkley, a Democratic senator from Oregon. Pretending to report a "fraudulent election", Gionet said: "We need to get our boy, Donald J Trump, into office."

According to court documents, Gionet also told rioters: "Come in, let's go, come on in, make yourself at home" and chanted: "Patriots are in control!" and "Whose house? Our house!"

His attorney, Zachary Thornley, argued that Gionet "never crossed the line from being a protestor to a rioter" and was instead "sort of a guerrilla journalist" who was "there to document. That's what he does."

Before becoming a star of far-right social media, Gionet worked for media website BuzzFeed.

Last July, however, he pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building.

Gionet has had other brushes with the law. After clashes in Arizona in late 2020, he was sentenced to 30 days in jail for misdemeanor convictions and fined for damaging a Hannukah display at the state capitol.

For his participation in the Capitol riot, prosecutors recommended 75 days incarceration and three years probation. Judge McFadden, a Trump appointee who took over the case before sentencing, handed down 60 days and two years probation.

Also imposing a $2,000 fine and $500 in restitution, McFadden said that for Gionet, the January 6 riot was the "culmination of a petty crime spree".

Gionet spoke to reporters outside court, saying his sentence was a "win" and adding that he planned to use his time in jail to write a book.

"I have grown immense amounts," he said. "But I still hold firm that I was there because I believe the election was fraudulent, and I believe people should have a right to speak freely as long as they are being peaceful."

More than 900 people have been charged with federal crimes related to January 6. Nearly 500 have pleaded guilty. More than 350 have been sentenced.

The House select committee which investigated the riot recommended Trump face criminal charges. An investigation by the Department of Justice continues.