‘You’ve disgraced this country’: Judge blasts convicted Capitol rioter

A minor participant in the 6 January Capitol riot has received a major tongue-lashing from a federal judge.

“You’ve disgraced this country in the eyes of the world and my inclination would be to lock you up, but since the government isn’t asking me to do that ... I won’t,” US District Court Judge Reggie Walton scolded defendant Anthony Mariotto at a hearing on Friday, according to Politico.

The Florida local had been charged with entering and remaining in a restricted building, two counts of disorderly conduct, entering and remaining in the gallery of Congress, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.

But as part of a plea deal, prosecutors dropped all the charges except for the parading, to which Mr Mariotto pleaded guilty. The misdemeanor carries a maximum prison sentence of six months.

According to the Department of Justice, more than 600 people have been arrested in connection to the 6 January assault, when a mob of Donald Trump supporters stormed the US Capitol.