WASHINGTON — A political appointee of Donald Trump who tried to storm the Capitol on Jan. 6 was convicted of seven felonies on Thursday, the same day a grand jury decided whether to indict the former president for his efforts to stop the peaceful transfer of power was hearing testimony. by former White House aide William Russell.
Federico Klein, who worked at the State Department during the Trump administration, was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Trevor McFadden, also a Trump appointee, after a bench trial that unfolded last week . Klein was represented by Stanley Woodward, a lawyer for several former Trump officials, including Russell, who was testifying elsewhere in federal court. Klein, who was 42 at the time of his arrest, faced charges of assault, resisting or obstructing officers; obstruction of an official proceeding; and civil disorder; as well as minor crimes.
A photo of Federico Klein from his Facebook page. F.B.I
Klein was originally due to go to trial along with two other co-defendants, but one of the men, Christopher Quaglin, pleaded guilty. Instead, Klein went to trial alongside Steven Cappuccio of Texas, who authorities said ripped off an officer’s mask and joined an effort to try to indict law enforcement.
Klein was in a tunnel leading to the U.S. Capitol, where one of the worst violence against police took place on Jan. 6, 2021, prosecutors had argued. He did not, however, enter the building.
During the trial, Woodward argued that it was “in the eye of the beholder” what Klein was doing in the tunnel. He acknowledged that Klein’s presence at the head of the police line was not a factor in his favor, but that the government had not proven Klein’s intentions that day.
“This case is based on reasonable doubt,” Woodward said. “What they can’t prove is what the intent was here.”
Woodward also encouraged McFadden to look closely at the evidence on whether there was anything to suggest that Klein actually assaulted the officers, though McFadden noted that it “doesn’t take him off the hook” because the statute — assault, resisting or obstructing officers. — It also makes it illegal to interfere with officers performing their duties.
