Capitol rioter breaks down crying in court -- gets hit with 68-month prison sentence

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

A Marine Corps veteran who participated in the January 6 insurrection just received 68 months in prison — the longest sentence of anyone involved in the attack to date — shortly after giving a tearful speech to the judge trying to beg for leniency, according to POLITICO on Wednesday.


"Daniel Caldwell, a 51-year-old Marine Corps veteran, delivered a tearful apology in court to the officers he sprayed, expressing remorse for his actions that day and pleading with U.S. District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly for mercy," reported Kyle Cheney. "But Kollar-Kotelly repeatedly described Caldwell as an 'insurrectionist' and noted that his deployment of chemical spray at officers created such an intense cloud that it nearly broke the depleted police line by itself. Though no officers directly attributed their injuries that day to Caldwell’s actions, Kollar-Kotelly said his actions undoubtedly contributed to their physical and psychological trauma."

“You’re entitled to your political views but not to an insurrection,” said Kollar Kotelly as she handed down the sentence. “You were an insurrectionist.”

“I must face my actions head on,” said Caldwell tearfully, in his speech. “I hope that you and our country never have to face another day like January 6th.”

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/capitol-rioter-breaks-down-crying-in-court-gets-hit-with-68-month-prison-sentence/ar-AA170Fid

Not so tough now are you?

[Aristus]

1. They say 'once a Marine, always a Marine'. Not in this asshole's case.

Once you take up arms against your country, you lose the right to be called a Marine.

Rot in jail, blockhead (no longer a jarhead.)

[MarineCombatEngineer]

3. A huge +100. nt

[Sky Jewels]

8. It freaks me out that a not insignificant portion of our military were/are fascist sympathizers.

I know not "all." And in theory, it should be "zero." In theory, all Marines and all members of all other branches should be dedicated to protecting our democracy at all costs. But the terrifying reality of our military and the radicalization that has occurred over forty years is that many members, including many members of the brass, would be more than happy to help the right overthrow the government tomorrow and install Trump or some other fascist as dictator for life.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

10. You are completely wrong,

the vast majority of the military, including my beloved Marines, take the Oath of Enlistment very seriously, as evidenced by the top brass refusal to get involved in Benedict Donald's treason.

Yes, there is a minority of military members who are radicalized, but they are just a very small part of the Armed Forces.

[secondwind]

18. Thank you!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

21. My pleasure.

[LisaM]

23. I'll take you at your word, but..

then you explain to me why the voting members of the military spurned John Kerry and Al Gore, two candidates who actually served in Vietnam, and voted in larger numbers for Bush?

[MarineCombatEngineer]

24. That was then, this is now,

and Pres. Biden received more military votes than Benedict Donald, especially after the way Benedict shit all over the military.

[LisaM]

26. Sorry, no.

What happened to both of them has ramifications now, and the military did not support their own in either case.

I have never heard that the military went to Biden over Trump. Is that right, including active military?

[Lasher]

59. US troops favored Biden for president but vets over 55 years old liked Trump.

US troops favor Biden for president, but Trump has a big lead among veterans, polls show

Oct 26, 2020

Active-duty military personnel prefer Democratic nominee Joe Biden for president, but incumbent President Donald Trump has the edge with veterans, Military Times polls show.

A survey of 1,018 active-duty troops conducted by Military Times in partnership with the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University between July 27 and August 10 found that 43.1% of respondents said they were voting for Biden while only 37.4% said they were voting for Trump.

That poll of the active-duty force found that over the past four years, favorable views of their commander in chief have dropped from 46.1% in 2016 to 37.8% by this summer while unfavorable views surged from 37% to 49.9%.

(snip)

The latest Military Times poll also saw the majority of Trump's veteran support coming from those 55 and older. Younger veterans prefer Biden, with 51% of veterans ages 35-54 backing Biden over Trump. Among veterans under the age of 35, 46% said they preferred Biden while 42% supported Trump.

https://www.businessinsider.com/us-troops-prefer-biden-but-veterans-favor-trump-polls-show-2020-10

If this poll can be believed, that is. I don't know how the troops and vets actually voted.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

69. This vet did vote for Pres. Biden,

and a lot of my RW trucker buddies, who are vets, did vote for Pres. Biden because of the way Benedict Donald screwed us truckers and his insulting the military.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

72. Well, golly gee, I only have 35 years in the Marine Corps,

I've been very active with vet groups and am pretty familiar with their voting trends, what's your real world experience? Not worthless polls, but actual talking to them?

[Kaleva]

36. Why do seniors often vote in larger numbers for the R candidate?

One would have thought that war hero Eisenhower would have swept the conservative South in '52 and '56 but liberal egghead Stevenson won every state in the deep South in both elections

[Dan]

45. When you're in the service, especially young enlisted troops

You just don’t pay any attention to things happening outside the base and your sphere of influence. You’re just doing your thing - and lots of young soldiers don’t even vote - cause you’re not paying attention to the outside world. My thoughts, my experience.

[MyMission]

27. I'm not arguing with you, but

As of 2022, the majority of U.S. active-duty military personnel around the world were stationed in the United States and its territories, with a total of 1.18 million (from Google). If 10% are radicalized (10% is the default deviant from the norm) that gives them over 100,000 active military who might support a coup or insurrection.

When compared to the total military it seems small, but by my count that's still a lot of active military who would forsake their oath. Didn't check on numbers of former military, but again, with such a large number of former military in the world, even if 10% were not loyal that's still a lot of trained would be traitors.

I have a good friend who's a Marine, and he feels the same as you. Yes, the majority will uphold their oath, but by the numbers he's saddened that so many did or would forsake their oath. Certainly a small number relative to the whole, but sadly not insubstantial.

[Kaleva]

37. You're arguement is based on an assumption

That 10% of the military is radicalized.

[MyMission]

87. My assumption is a theory, not an argument

Something I learned years ago when I was in grad school, studying psychology and statistics. I leaned a theory that extreme deviant behavior, as compared to the norm, will generally manifest in approximately 10% of any given population; so one can estimate in any population that 10% will deviate from the norm to the extreme.

Think of a normal curve, most fall within the large hump, but we get the top 5% and bottom 5% who land at the extreme ends. That's 10%. It's not an absolute, and curves can be skewed or bimodal. But even in those cases, there are those that fall outside of the norms.

Even if it's 5% of 1.8 million active duty, that's still hundreds of thousands who have the potential to do a lot of harm, even if they're being watched. I didn't look up numbers on former military, but I'm sure they are a large group too. I agree that the majority of active (and former) military will protect and defend. It's the bottom 5%, the dregs, the proud and oath breaker boy types that I'm referring to.

I was only trying to point out that while it's a small percentage it's not a small number. As I write this it occurs to me it's kind of like covid numbers; only a small percentage died or got long covid, but it still represents a large number of people and something we can't ignore.

[Dan]

46. No way....

[MarineCombatEngineer]

75. While I agree with you in general,

the vast majority of the Armed Forces are not radicalized and I can attest to that they are watched very closely.

When I did a 2 year stint with MarSecFor, we knew who the trouble makers were and kept a very close watch on them, I imagine it's the same today as when I was a Marine cop.

[orangecrush]

30. +1

[CosmicSloth]

33. Exactly, and thanks.

I took my oath seriously as did all of the members in my group of colleagues. In fact just about everyone I came in contact with during my service time (7 years) would NEVER have even thought of joining an insurrection.

[Sky Jewels]

40. Well, after the coup attempt, U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Thomas Kolditz estimated the number of

traitors and potential traitors in the "thousands" across the DoD. So, like I said, a not insignificant portion.

I could be wrong, but I don't think many of the pro-coup military have been rooted out.

"We’re not talking about half a dozen people. We’re probably talking about thousands across the Department of Defense,” he said. “Many of them will have already run their mouth, put things on social media. But this was an insurgency, a crime against the state. And it’s a duty obligation of the defense leadership to make sure that there are no, essentially, sleeper cells, people in the military who, for whatever reason, think an insurgency is a good idea or justifiable.”

https://americanmilitarynews.com/2021/02/ret-army-general-says-trump-supporters-in-military-need-to-be-kicked-out/

[Lunabell]

43. It may be a small part, but it is a problem. A big problem.

https://theconversation.com/faced-with-a-rise-of-extremism-within-its-ranks-the-us-military-has-clamped-down-on-racist-speech-including-retweets-and-likes-187760

[MarineCombatEngineer]

79. I'm not denying it's a problem

but it's being addressed as we speak.
Look, I still am very active in military circles and I can say with complete confidence that this is a problem that is being handled.

[edisdead]

77. Yeah. No.

Sorry but I served as well and that is definitely NOT my take away.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

78. You have you opinion,

I have 35 years of experience.

[edisdead]

80. it doesn't bear out tho

Not in any statistic that I can tell.

Military overwhelmingly supported Trump and historically votes gop by a large margin from what I can see.

But yeah 35 years is a long career. Congrats!

[MarineCombatEngineer]

81. Pres. Biden received the majority of active duty votes,

whereas, Benedict received more vet votes than Pres. Biden, especially after Benedict shit all over the Armed Forces.

But yeah 35 years is a long career. Congrats!

Thank you, it had it's good times and bad times, but overall, it was well worth it.

Thank you for your service.

[barbtries]

42. i do know

that when my son was in the Navy, at the submarine unit at Norfolk VA, he worked in an office that had fox news and rush limbaugh going every single day.

[Sky Jewels]

62. Yep. A lot of soldiers are indoctrinated with far right propaganda.

And these are people who self-selected to be in the military anyway, so a lot of them already have that mindset going in.

[barbtries]

63. fortunately,

my son already had well formed critical thinking skills and of course he was raised by me, so he was not influenced by it. more like disgusted actually.

[Sky Jewels]

65. Good for him.

We have friends whose son is in the Air Force; he's a good one too. He did an internship for a liberal Senator before he was accepted into the Academy.

[barbtries]

66. the AF i kind of famous

for fundamentalist christianity and intolerance of those who do not practice it. I hope his experience is good and he stays safe and well.

[Sky Jewels]

71. Thanks. I think so far he hasn't encountered too much of the fundie stuff.

I think his (very liberal) parents would have mentioned it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

2. This really pisses me off when I read about a Marine

violating the very principles of the Constitution he swore to uphold when he enlisted in my beloved Marine Corps, he should have received much more time because he knew better.

[fightforfreedom]

17. I am glad my father (Marine) isn't alive to witness this.

My dad would want to beat the shit out of him. I was in the Army and I want to beat the shit out of him.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

19. +100. nt

[Permanut]

20. This Navy vet is right with you on this.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

22. +100. nt

[Chainfire]

39. Couldn't agree more.

I still remember what I swore to do....Apparently the former Marine forgot. If these folks are looking for sympathy, I suggest that the find in in the dictionary.

[cactusfractal]

35. Same.

Not our brother, this one.

Semper Fidelis doesn't mean you get to have a tantrum when your choice for dictator for life loses.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

70. +100. nt

[The_Casual_Observer]

4. He is just the kind of shit that has eagles and trump on his

Facebook page. Asshole is crying now and trump isn't there to save his sorry Nazi ass.

[GoodRaisin]

5. Another life ruined by Donald Trump and Fox News.

lol sucker.

[inthewind21]

64. Another

life ruined because of poor decisions. Unless someone was holding a gun to his head.

[Dorian Gray]

6. I know this isn't going to be a popular idea

so I'll shield myself from disagreement.

But Biden should consider giving him a pardon. (Something trump wouldn't do.)

[NoRethugFriends]

9. Why the hell should he do that?

[sdfernando]

12. Why?

I'm interested in your reasoning for that.

[Dorian Gray]

76. Reasoning in response to 2 others

but short hand... Trump riled people up and led them astray. He gloried in having the power over them. He used them and threw them away.

If Biden chose one or 2 to pardon who obviously were misled by the propaganda and Trump, and Biden said that he thought they deserved a pardon bc of that, then it would cement to the MAGAs that Trump truly never intended to help them after they were used by him.

Fantasy land on my part?

[sdfernando]

83. Yes I agree its

fantasy land on your part. MAGATs are not going to care about Biden pardoning 1 or 2 of their brethren....they will trash Biden for not pardoning the rest. The fact the cantaloupe cornhead could have done it is irrelevant to them.

[markodochartaigh]

13. I'm curious.

Why should President Biden consider pardoning him? To curry favor with Republicans who will never vote for him? To outrage tens of millions of Democratic voters who want people held accountable who tried to stop the peaceful transition of power which has been a tradition since the beginning of the US? Or because people who were in the US military should be able to stop presidential elections if they don't agree with the results?

[krkaufman]

52. Inconsistent

It would also just create more issues as the Admin would then have to justify not doing the same for every other insurrectionist.

[Dorian Gray]

73. Because it would cement

to Trump's supporters that he had no intention of helping them. He used them then discarded them.

I knew it would be an extraordinarily unpopular thing to say, but they treat him like he's a god king, and he's a self interested cowardly schmuck.

Biden's benevolence would stick in their craw.

(Maybe not this particular guy, and certainly not someone who harmed other people or led to deaths. But there has to be a person or two who were totally misled and misguided and didn't have the emotional wherewithal to make good judgments)

[markodochartaigh]

82. Your comment smacks of logic and reason, neither of

which authoritarian Maga supporters have in reasonable measure. I grew up in a county which went 80% for Trump in 2020, it probably would have been higher but Trump is not extreme enough for many there. Any thing that Democrats do that they agree with they ignore or dismiss and forget. Any bad thing that a Republican does they ignore or dismiss and forget. Authoritarians operate on beliefs, not logic and reason.

But I will certainly agree with your assessment of the quantity "has to be a person or two" of those who were mislead and will admit it.

[Dorian Gray]

84. Maybe it's logical

maybe it's not.

I despise Trump so much that it's hard for me to see how anybody doesn't see him as gratuitously cruel and self-interested as a person can be.

Perhaps I'm desperate for ANYTHING to break through the noise.

But you're right. MAGA isn't rational at all. If they were, we wouldn't be here now.

[newdayneeded]

53. What?

[Paladin]

58. Not only no, but FUCK no. (nt)

[BootinUp]

60. WTH?

[Dorian Gray]

74. I knew it would get this response

but I do think that it would really show to the MAGA crowd that trump had no interest in helping them. He used them and threw them out. He glorified in knowing he could rile them up to behave like lunatics.

Having biden pardon one of them would be a smack in trump's face, especially if couched in "They were misled by trump and his team into doing these actions."

[mercuryblues]

7. He needs to be stripped

of any medals he has received. If he receives any benefits from the military that also need to be stripped from him.

He can rot away the rest of his life, waiting for Trump to pardon him.

[getagrip_already]

15. I don't understand why active duty soldiers who attacked the capitol haven't been court martialed..

It seems to happen with other crimes, such as domestic abuse and rape. Why not now?

I admittedly don't know the military justice system, but I'd like to understand why they are escaping it.

[MarineCombatEngineer]

16. He wasn't active duty at the time of the insurrection. nt

[OnlinePoker]

61. There were 3 active duty who were there and have only been charged in a civilian court

https://www.fox44news.com/news/political-news/ap-3-active-duty-marines-charged-in-jan-6-capitol-riot/

[MarineCombatEngineer]

68. So far,

the military may be waiting for the civilian courts to conclude and then they'll be court martialed.

The good thing is that if this is the case, then the military courts can use any evidence against them from the civilian courts.

If they're convicted in the civilian courts, then that's grounds for a less than honorable discharge.

[republianmushroom]

11. To hell with you "Daniel Caldwell" may you think about your traitorous action

every day the rest of your life.

[Initech]

29. Another mind rotted by the right wing misinformation sphere.

[republianmushroom]

31. only if you want it to rot.

An awful lot have said no to the rot.

[inthewind21]

67. Bingo!

[keithbvadu2]

14. As he followed Trump who considers him a 'sucker' and a 'loser', willing to die for our country.

As he followed Trump who considers him a 'sucker' and a 'loser', willing to die for our country.

[KS Toronado]

25. Wonder if any insurrectionists

while sitting in prison will turn anti tfg or anti reQup.
Smart they would.

[Initech]

28. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes!

[SYFROYH]

32. This is useless without video.

[erronis]

44. Huh? You want tiktok? This isn't a made-for-T.V. courtroom case.

[SYFROYH]

49. Actually putting on tiktok would be great. Sentencing hearings are often recorded.

I want the whole world to see the MAGAT criminal cry.

Is that a problem for you?

[dalton99a]

34. Enjoy prison, traitor.

[vlyons]

38. Boo hoo hoo

He should have known better. Maybe after 5+ years in the clinker will be enough time for him to come out a better man.

[Samrob]

41. Military active or inactive who took part in the insurrection should be hit extremely hard.

Set the example that being paid or receiving benefits from the very government you tried to overturn is prison bait!

[3Hotdogs]

47. No Sanny Claws for you this year.

[LoisB]

48. "...our country"? I would posit that any country, the government of which he attempted to overthrow

is not HIS country.

[democrank]

50. If I had a dozen shovels and a dozen helpers

I couldn’t dig up any sympathy for this guy.

[Justice matters.]

51. So, how 'wild' is it gonna be for ya now, lyin-hair-furhair's 'sucker'...

Enjoy your 'wild' stay.

P.S.: He will not pay your bills too.

[cstanleytech]

54. Want to bet the tears were really only remorse for having to go to jail?

[Vinca]

55. Bingo. Suddenly he realized he'll being missing all those backwoods militia training days.

[3catwoman3]

56. Boo-fucking-hoo, traitor.

[Demobrat]

57. Love how all these big brave macho men cry sorry when they're standing in front of a judge.

If they had won they would be strutting their stuff every day of their lives. Rot in jail, you miserable cur. And when you get out feel sorry for yourself every day of your miserable, unemployable existence.

[LakeArenal]

85. Trump and cult really thought they had police and military on the bag.

But I knew he does not have the military when trump called them out to clear protestors at the Church photo op.

I remember the serviceman at the scene pretty much saying they wanted no part in that.

Caldwell cries now. What if they had hung Pence and found Pelosi? Would he be crying then?…..

[gopiscrap]

86. good, fuck him!!!!

[twodogsbarking]

88. His rank has been reduced to Cry Baby, First Class.

[housecat]

89. If anyone in the military can't recognise the enemy, maybe they should try another line of work