Jan. 6 Defendant Who Called for ‘Nuclear Option’ After Electoral Vote Count Gets 7 Years in Prison

Taylor James Johnatakis is one of the more than 1,350 people who have been charged with various crimes in relation to the Jan. 6 Capitol breach.

Demonstrators are seen at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021. John Minchillo/AP Photo

A Washington state man was sentenced to over seven years in prison on Wednesday after a judge said he played a leadership role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach and called for a “nuclear option” when then-Vice President Mike Pence failed to pause the electoral vote count.

“In any angry mob, there are leaders and there are followers. Mr. Johnatakis was a leader. He knew what he was doing that day,” U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth said on April 3 in a District of Columbia courtroom, before sentencing Taylor James Johnatakis to seven years and three months behind bars.