DES MOINES, Iowa — Federal prosecutors are asking that Doug Jensen, an Iowa man convicted for his role in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, spend more than five years in prison.
The government's sentencing memorandum filed Tuesday recommends Jensen spend 64 months, or just over five years, in prison as well as pay $2,000 in restitution.
The document also claims Jensen was a "ringleader" who helped lead the charge at the U.S. Capitol attack on Jan. 6, 2021 by encouraging others to follow him inside.
Jensen was convicted at trial on all counts in September, including a charge that he engaged in disorderly conduct inside the Capitol while carrying a folding knife in his pocket.
Those charges include:
- Civil disorder
- Obstruction of an official preceding
- Assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers
- Entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds with a deadly or dangerous weapon (x2)
- Disorder conduct in a capitol building
- Parading, demonstrating or picketing in a capitol building
The defense filed their sentencing recommendation Friday, asking Jensen to be sentenced to 27 months, or a little over two years, in prison.
Jensen's legal team writes:
"Mr. Jensen is a passionate man who became embroiled in conspiracy theories and conservative politics. However, he has no history of being a political activist. He is an uneducated union laborer who became overwhelmed by conspiracy theories disseminated on the internet.".
Sentencing is scheduled for Friday, Dec. 16.