US court sentences ex-policeman to more than 7 years in jail for role in January 6 attack

Thomas Robertson's sentencing matches the longest to be handed down to a Capitol rioter

Donald Trump, the president at the time, speaks during a rally protesting the electoral college certification of Joe Biden as president in Washington on January 6, 2021. AP

A mob loyal to Mr Trump tries to break through a police barrier at the Capitol. AP

The mob waves pro-Trump flags in front of the Capitol building. AP

Riot police push back a crowd of rioters at the Capitol building. AFP

Trump supporters clash with police and security forces as people try to storm the US Capitol building. AFP

Insurrectionists loyal to Mr Trump try to open a door of the US Capitol building as they riot in Washington. AP

US Capitol Police push back rioters trying to enter the US Capitol. AP

Police and rioters confront each other in the Rotunda of the Capitol. US Capitol Police via AP

Smoke fills the hallway outside the Senate chamber of the Capitol. AP

Insurrectionists loyal to Mr Trump breach the Capitol in Washington. AP

Trump supporters, including Doug Jensen, centre, confront US Capitol Police in the hallway outside the Senate chamber at the Capitol. AP

Newly installed razor wire tops the fence surrounding the US Capitol following the January 6 riot. Reuters

Security agents and members of Congress barricade the door to the House chamber as the violent mob breaches the Capitol. AP

Rioter Jacob Chansley holds a sign referencing QAnon as supporters of Mr Trump gather to protest the early results of the 2020 presidential election. Reuters

A former policeman charged by prosecutors with lying about his actions relating to the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol has been sentenced to more than seven years in prison.

A jury in April convicted Thomas Robertson of six criminal charges, including obstruction of justice and obstruction of an official proceeding.

Robertson and Guy Reffitt, who was convicted in March, are now tied for the longest sentence for someone involved in the Capitol riots, at 87 months.

Robertson “used his law enforcement training to block Metropolitan Police Officers attempting to hold back the mob", federal prosecutor Elizabeth Aloi wrote in the government's sentencing memo.

The former policeman's lawyer had asked for a sentence not longer than 15 months.

His trial featured testimony from Jackob Fracker, who reported to Robertson in the Rocky Mount, Virginia, police department. The pair took selfies when they entered the Capitol on January 6, 2021. Prosecutors said Robertson formatted the mobile phones they had used on that day.

The town fired Robertson and Fracker after the riot.

Fracker pleaded guilty to a felony charge of conspiracy in March and is scheduled to be sentenced on August 16.

About 850 people have been charged with federal crimes in relations to their actions to January 6. More than 350 of them have pleaded guilty, and more than 230 have been sentenced so far.

The attack on the Capitol killed at least five people and injured scores of officers as supporters of Donald Trump sought to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election.

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Reuters contributed to this report