Convicted Jan 6. rioter seeks pardon based on Trump's victory

Moments earlier a convicted Jan. 6 rioter was sentenced to 8 years successful situation connected Thursday, he sought a afloat pardon by claiming that Donald Trump's triumph connected Election Day vindicated his actions.

Zachary Alam told nan tribunal that he wanted a caller classification of pardon, which he called a "full pardon of patriotism," for his actions connected Jan. 6, 2021. That would travel pinch monetary compensation, expungement of nan charges from his criminal grounds and nan assurance that he would ne'er again beryllium charged for his crimes.

Alam seemed to qualify thing little arsenic a "second-class pardon" and implied that he would not judge it.

Although Alam did not contradict his actions during nan riot connected nan Capitol, stating, "I will 100% admit my actions were not lawful connected January 6," he besides justified them by saying he was doing nan correct point to protect democracy.

“True patriots do nan correct point successful spite of everything else,“ he claimed, adding that his chap rioters had “fought, cried, bled and died for what is right.”

"Trump wasn't lying," Alam said successful court, emphasizing that nan American group voted for him "four years later."

Donald Trump waves to his supporters arsenic he leaves nan shape aft an predetermination nighttime statement astatine nan Palm Beach County Convention Center successful West Palm Beach, Florida connected Nov. 6, 2024.

Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Judge Dabney Friedrich described Alam's actions arsenic a "full-throated" onslaught connected nan Constitution and "not nan acts of a patriot."

She called Alam 1 of nan "most convulsive and aggressive" rioters that day, noting that Capitol Police officers besides described him arsenic nan loudest among them.

At his trial, rule enforcement officials recalled him many times telling them, "I'm going to f--- you up."

Lawyers for nan Justice Department, meanwhile, noted that Alam stood retired connected Jan. 6 "because of his actions."

Those included knocking retired nan solid doorway of nan Speaker's Lobby and pushing up against 3 Capitol Police officers who were trying to support nan mob from entering nan level of nan House of Representatives.

He scaled 4 floors of nan Capitol, kicked doors and threw a velvet statement complete a pavilion successful an effort to deed officers below.

In nan courtroom, nan Justice Department asserted, “There are consequences to taking rule into your ain hands.”

Trump supporters conflict pinch constabulary and information forces arsenic they push barricades to large wind nan US Capitol successful Washington D.C connected Jan. 6, 2021.

Roberto Schmidt/AFP via Getty Images

Leaving nan Capitol aft Ashli Babbitt was shot, Alam shouted to chap rioters that they "need guns."

He past fled and tried to conceal his identity.

He was arrested astir a period later.

Alam besides claimed successful tribunal that nan Justice Department coerced defendants into taking plea deals -- an statement nan judge dismissed connected Thursday.

He asked successful tribunal if nan insurgence connected Jan. 6 had genuinely threatened democracy, watching that nan American group had reelected Trump conscionable 48 hours prior.

"Sometimes you person to break nan rules to do nan correct thing," he said.

Alam's lawyer Steven Metcalf based on that his customer should service 5 years successful prison, including nan astir 4 years he had already served, on pinch clip successful a halfway house.

Metcalf noted that his customer had nary friends and had been successful and retired of solitary confinement, some for his behaviour and concerns astir his safety.

The lawyer said successful tribunal that immoderate group are not going to alteration their beliefs, but conceded that Alam "can't take to return things successful his ain hands."

He emphasized nan request for rehabilitation to thief group for illustration his client.

Alam's lawyer depicted him arsenic a suspect who lacked a support system. At nan clip of nan Jan. 6 riot, he was surviving wrong a retention portion and was not adjacent pinch his family, according to Metcalf. His parents ne'er appeared successful court.

He asserted that Capitol Police officers were not traumatized by Alam specifically, arguing that they were not physically wounded by him aliases his nonstop actions.

Pro-Trump supporters large wind nan U.S. Capitol pursuing a rally pinch President Donald Trump connected Jan. 6, 2021 successful Washington, DC.

Samuel Corum/Getty Images

The judge challenged Metcalf's argument, emphasizing that nan Capitol Police officers stationed successful nan Speaker's Lobby were nan "last stand" betwixt rioters and lawmakers.

She said Alam's actions contributed to nan trauma that those officers faced connected Jan 6.

Alam said that he was consenting to acquisition rehabilitation, but nan judge -- citing his deficiency of remorse -- alternatively sentenced him to complete 8 years successful situation and 3 years of supervised release.

ABC News' T. Michelle Murphy contributed to this report.