Samuel Lazar was sentenced for his participation in the Jan. 6 insurrection. Unlike most cases, Lazar’s was kept secret, with all related documents sealed — until now.
Who is Samuel Lazar?
Lazar is a 37-year-old man from Ephrata, Pennsylvania. He was arrested in July 2021 due to his participation in the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 of the same year.
Unusual Case
Lazar’s case was unusual in its secrecy. Many documents relating to trials are usually publicly accessible, but Lazar’s were sealed.
One of Many
As of the end of 2023, more than 1,200 individuals have been charged with federal crimes relating to the insurrection. Almost all of those cases have remained unsealed.
Seriously Unusual
Randall Eliason, a criminal law professor and former federal prosecutor, told the Associated Press that he couldn’t remember being involved in a case as sealed as Lazar’s despite serving in Washington for more than a decade.
Why the Secrecy?
Eliason speculated that there was “some kind of security concern about [Lazar] personally.” Another more likely option was that Lazar was “cooperating in some respect” that prosecutors wanted to keep secret from those Lazar was cooperating against.
Rejected Requests
Media outlets repeatedly requested access to the sealed documents relating to Lazar’s case. In May, the judge overseeing the case rejected one such request.
Documents Released
This week, however, court documents were unsealed in response to another request. They show that Lazar admitted to various offenses, including spraying a chemical irritant toward police officers defending the Capitol.
Lazar’s Actions
The unsealed documents describe Lazar as “dressed in a camouflaged tactical vest, black hooded sweatshirt, and blue jeans. On his tactical vest was a patch that read, “Blessed be the Lord, my rock, who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle.”
Ready for Battle
“At times,” the documents continue, Lazar “wore green ski goggles to protect his eyes from chemical irritants deployed by law enforcement.” He also “had his face painted in a camouflaged design and carried a radio on his tactical vest.”
War Cry
Lazar also admitted to egging on other rioters. He called for people to confront police officers, yelling, “Let’s get their guns!”
Lenient Sentence
Federal prosecutors told the judge that Lazar has provided “valuable information” to authorities. His generally “fulsome” cooperation with the government prompted the prosecutors to ask for a shorter term than recommended by federal guidelines.
Leader or led on?
Lazar’s attorney claimed that his behavior on Jan. 6 was “entirely out of character.” She blamed former President Trump, arguing that Lazar “blindly followed President Trump’s cry to ‘fight like hell to take back the country.’”
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