The judge assigned to Trump’s Jan. 6 case is a tough punisher of Capitol rioters

By MICHAEL KUNZELMAN
Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — The federal judge assigned to the election fraud case against former President Donald Trump stands out as one of the toughest punishers of rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol. Judge Tanya Chutkan often has handed down prison sentences in Jan. 6, 2021, riot cases that are harsher than what Justice Department prosecutors recommended. An Associated Press analysis of court records shows Chutkan has sentenced at least 38 people convicted of Capitol riot-related crimes. And all 38 of them received prison terms, ranging from 10 days to over five years. Chutkan is a former assistant public defender who was nominated to the bench by President Barack Obama.