Thomas B. Adams Jr.'s January 6 Sentence
Thomas B. Adams Jr., 41, of Springfield, Illinois was sentenced to 14 months in prison on June 16 for his role in the 2021 Capitol breach on January 6. U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta also placed Adams on 36 months of supervised release and ordered him to pay $2,000 in restitution.
Felony and Misdemeanor Charges
Adams was found guilty in February 2023 of one felony and one misdemeanor charge related to the breach. The felony, obstruction of an official proceeding and aiding and abetting, and the misdemeanor, remaining in a restricted building or grounds, were a result of Adams and others disrupting a joint session of the U.S. Congress.
Passage Through Security Perimeter
According to court documents, Adams, around 2:48 p.m., joined other rioters in passing through the security perimeter near the U.S. Capitol.
Breach of Parliamentarian Door
Adams and other rioters then breached the Parliamentarian Door, which is a fire door, that led them into the Capitol building. Adams later told FBI agents he believed window washing equipment was used to break the door and he had to walk through broken glass to get inside.
Inside the Capitol
Once inside, Adams passed a line of U.S. Capitol Police Officers who were attempting to stop the rioters. Adams proceeded to the Senate Chamber and entered at approximately 3:04 p.m. through a door on the second floor. Adams stated he knew he would not have legitimate authorization to enter the Senate Chamber and ignored the officers.
Senate Floor
Adams took pictures with his cell phone while inside the Senate Chamber and was escorted out of the building by law enforcement at around 3:11 p.m. He described the situation to FBI agents as being "forced out."
Adams' Motivations for Storming the Capitol
Adams told a reporter he attended the rally held by President Trump earlier in the day and that the former president's claim of being cheated out of victory spurred him to join in the breach. Adams also told FBI agents he was planning to peacefully occupy the Capitol building and didn't know how long he and the other rioters would be there for.
Investigation On-Going
In the 29 months since the breach, over 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for related crimes, including nearly 350 individuals charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing. Anyone with tips related to the breach is asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (800-225-5324) or visit tips.fbi.gov.
