Court documents were unsealed on Wednesday after a coalition of news outlets, including The Associated Press, moved to publicly release records in the case of Pennsylvania man, Samuel Lazar.
Records show Lazar cooperated with authorities investigating the Jan. 6, 2021 attack and provided information in another unrelated case. The documents reveal details in the unusual secrecy surrounding Lazar, who was released from federal custody in September after having completed his sentence.
Even after his release, the case stayed confidential, leaving no record of any conviction or punishment.
The Associated Press reported the unsealed records show that Lazar, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, confessed to spraying a chemical irritant at police officers who were trying to defend the Capitol and to using a bullhorn to rile up other rioters to take officers' weapons as he yelled, "Let's get their guns!" Over 1200 individuals have faced charges related to events from Jan. 6, and among them, hundreds of already pleaded guilty.
NBC News confirmed Sam Lazar had assisted prosectors with cases against other rioters, as well as a federal criminal defendant charged in a murder case. The documents also indicate that prosecutors urged the judge last year to show leniency for Lazar with a prison term below the federal guidelines range, citing Lazar's "fulsome" cooperation with the government and the "valuable information" he provided to authorities investigating the Jan. 6 attack.
He ultimately pleaded guilty to assaulting officers using a dangerous weapon and was sentenced to 30 months in prison during a sealed hearing last March.
As stated by the Associated Press, the attorney told the judge that her client's behavior on Jan. 6 "was completely out of character for him as he is an extremely respectful, law-abiding citizen who has deep respect and appreciation for law enforcement."
Lawyer Hope Lefeber wrote in a court filing, "He blindly followed President Trump's cry to 'fight like hell to take back the country,'"
An attorney for Lazar declined to comment on Thursday.
