A former Connecticut city official has been sentenced to 10 days in prison for his role in the January 6, 2021 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The official, Derby Alderman Joseph DiGiovanni, pleaded guilty to one count of entering or remaining within a restricted building or grounds. He was sentenced by Chief Judge James Boasberg, who also ordered him to perform 50 hours of community service.
DiGiovanni was not directly involved in any physical violence during the riot, but he was photographed inside the Capitol building for approximately 22 minutes. He also celebrated with other rioters after exiting the building. Prosecutors asked for a 30-day sentence, while defense attorneys argued that DiGiovanni should be allowed to walk free.
DiGiovanni was elected to the Derby Board of Aldermen in November 2021, representing the city’s 2nd Ward. His participation in the January 6 riot was not publicly known until the fall of 2022, when an NBC affiliate in Connecticut used videos from the day of the riot to identify him. DiGiovanni admitted to participating in the riot in an interview with the station, saying that he believed there were “discrepancies” in the 2020 election results.
The January 6 riot was a violent attempt to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election. A mob of Trump supporters stormed the Capitol building in an effort to prevent Congress from certifying the election results. The riot resulted in five deaths and numerous injuries. Hundreds of people have been charged in connection with the riot.
