Ray Epps' Jan. 6 Sentence Enrages MAGA

Ray Epps was sentenced on Tuesday to one year of probation for his role in the January 6 riots at the U.S. Capitol in 2021, prompting widespread criticism on social media from conservatives and supporters of the MAGA movement.

"BREAKING: Ray Epps sentenced to 1 year probation, $500 fine after telling J6ers 'we need to go into the Capitol' Why did Epps text his nephew 'I orchestrated it'? Why was Epps on the FBI's most wanted list and then suddenly removed? Why did the New York Times write a puff piece on Epps? Why is Epps receiving such a kid gloves treatment?" conservative commentator and founder of Turning Point USA Charlie Kirk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.

According to the Associated Press, Epps pled guilty in September to a misdemeanor charge and was accused of "knowingly, and with intent to impede and disrupt the orderly conduct of Government business and official functions, engage in disorderly and disruptive conduct in and within such proximity to, a restricted building and ground," in connection to the January 6 riots.

The AP also reported that many conservative voices speculated that Epps was an undercover agent involved in the January 6 riots. Epps previously filed a lawsuit against Fox News for similar claims.

Many other social media users also reacted to the news of Epps' sentencing on Tuesday, such as X user Baked Alaska, who was previously arrested for his role in the January 6 riots.

"No jail time for Ray Epps ! Totally not a fed btw," Baked Alaska wrote including crying face emojis.

X user DC Draino wrote, "If you ever wanted more proof that Ray Epps is a _ _ _, here ya go. No jail time for telling people to go into the Capitol & being on the frontlines of the initial breach of the barriers We exposed their guy, they bent the knee to public pressure to charge him, then let him off."

Kentucky Republican Representative Thomas Massie also responded to the sentencing and said, "Ray Epps, the man who directed people to go into the Capitol and privately claimed credit for orchestrating the Capitol breach, gets one year probation. Nothing to see here!"

Donald Trump Jr. wrote: "Ray Epps gets probation, a $500 fine and is able to phone into his sentencing?!? Are you fricken kidding me? Yea guys, he totally wasn't put there to incite things by the feds. Our country is screwed... the traitors in charge aren't even pretending anymore."

Conservative commentator Ryan Fournier said, "How does someone like Ray Epps... who is on camera asking people to raid the Capitol Building, given just a year of probation and a $500 fine?!"

In a statement to Newsweek, Epps' lawyer, Edward Ungvarsky said, "We are grateful for the Court's careful sentencing decision that allows Ray and (his wife) Robyn Epps to try to move forward and try to repair their lives from the incessant verbal and other attacks on Mr. Epps that have led to very real past and current concerns for their physical safety."