Thomas Adams Jr., aged 41, has been found guilty of obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting in connection with his involvement in the protest at the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. He has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and 36 months of supervised release. The Department of Justice relied on Insider’s reporting for charging Adams. In an interview with The State Journal-Register after being found guilty, Adams expressed no regrets about his actions on January 6, 2021, and disagreed with the charges despite admitting guilt.
Adams joined a group of demonstrators in D.C. for Trump’s rally. After Trump spoke, many entered the Capitol building to express discontent with the vote count. Adams entered through a door opened by protesters who broke a window. Notably, Adams didn’t engage in any destruction. The Department of Justice pursued Adams him due to his association with a mostly peaceful crowd.
During the investigation, Adams denied having a specific agenda upon entering the Capitol and claimed no involvement in causing any damage. Later, Adams was approached by Insider freelancer Abigail Higgins, who requested an interview. Adams willingly shared his cell phone footage and described his experience at the Capitol as “fun” and even “hilarious.” The Department of Justice considered Insider’s reporting a ‘valuable resource’ during Adams’ initial charging, repeatedly referencing it in the statement of facts to identify Adams and enhance the investigation’s impact. This has led to speculation that Adams may have been set up by the Insider freelancer, who seemed to be acting in good faith.
Since his arrest, Adams has unwaveringly held his position without expressing any remorse for his actions, a perspective that is shared by many who believe that remorse should not be expected from him. In a February 2023 interview with The State Journal-Register, after being found guilty and awaiting sentencing, Adams expressed that he would not change anything about his participation in the events of January 6, 2021. He believed that his actions did not align with the charges against him, despite admitting guilt.
Adams was not charged with a violent crime or destruction of government property, and there is no evidence of any threats towards lawmakers. The 14-month prison sentence and 36 months of supervised release appear to have a political motive and do not align with the alleged crimes committed. During a time when crime rates are increasing across the United States, law enforcement should prioritize pursuing actual criminals and improving public safety, rather than prosecuting individuals based on political affiliations under the Biden administration. It is worth noting that throughout the Black Lives Matter riots, which lasted several months in 2020, few, if any, cases of this politically motivated nature have been brought forth, particularly not two years after the incidents occurred.
