Ex-NYPD Cop Sentenced To Record 10 Years For Jan. 6 Insurrection

NEW YORK CITY — A retired NYPD officer who assaulted a cop with a flagpole during the Jan. 6 insurrection received the longest sentence yet for a rioter in the pro-Trump attack on the U.S. Capitol.

Thomas Webster, 56, was sentenced Thursday to 10 years in prison for his role in the riot.

His prison term beat the past record by two other rioters, who were separately sentenced to more than seven years.

U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said during the sentencing that the Metropolitan police officer Webster clobbered with a flag pole during the unprecedented melee wasn't the only victim.

“The other victim was democracy, and that is not something that can be taken lightly,” Mehta said.

Webster retired from the NYPD in 2011 after 20 years with the department, during which time he had served on former Mayor Michael Bloomberg's security detail.

He's one of several New Yorkers accused of taking part in the insurrection, including the fur-clad son of a Brooklyn judge, an MTA worker who called in sick to attend and a Queens Republican district leader.

Prosecutors said Webster drove to Washington, D.C., ahead of a Jan. 6 "Stop the Steal" rally, where former President Donald Trump gave a speech riddled with false claims that the 2020 election was stolen from him.

As the pro-Trump mob marched toward the Capitol, Webster — who had a bulletproof vest and Marine Corps flag on a metal pole — led an attack against police barricades, prosecutors said. Bodycam footage showed him hurl profanities at Metropolitan Police Officer Noah Rathbun, who was trying to protect the Capitol, before he slammed a bike rack at the cop.

Rathbun struck the right side of Webster's face, which prompted Webster to swing his flag pole at him. Webster missed and hit a bike rack, but then charged Rathbun — who grabbed the pole — and tackled him to the ground and grabbed his gas mask, according to the video.

“Nothing can explain or justify Mr. Webster's rage," said Assistant U.S. Attorney Hava Mirell on Thursday. "Nothing can explain or justify his violence."

Jurors rejected Webster's claim of self-defense and took less than three hours to find him guilty on six counts.

Webster will report to prison at a later date.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.