Ray Epps, Jan. 6 Protestor At Center of Conspiracy Theories, Sentenced Over Capitol Riot

Ray Epps, a Trump supporter who became the subject of conspiracy theories over his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, was sentenced for his participation in the deadly protest on Tuesday.

He will receive no jail time for the charges he pled guilty to in September. He was sentenced to one year probation, $500 restitution, and 100 hours community service.

The Associated Press reported that Epps appeared by Zoom for his sentencing by Chief Judge James Boasberg, in the same courtroom where former President Donald Trump appeared on Tuesday for an appeals court hearing in his election crimes case.

Epps became the fixation of right-wing conspiracy theories, mainly promoted by former Fox News host Tucker Carlson, which claimed he was an FBI plant who incited the mob of Trump supporters to storm the Capitol in protest of his election loss. The conspiracy theory is part of a broader effort to insulate Trump from blame for the riot, which left multiple people dead and hundreds wounded.

A lynchpin of the theory was that, unlike other rioters, Epps was never charged for his conduct on Jan. 6. That last vestige of the truthers was demolished when Epps was charged with a misdemeanor count of disorderly or disruptive conduct last year.

Epps sued Fox News for defamation over the claims about him, which he says ruined his life, costing him his home and business. Fox News filed a motion to dismiss the suit in August, citing First Amendment protections.