A Jan. 6 defendant is seeking to exchange prison time for a probation sentence, citing her cooperation with the House panel investigating the Capitol riot.
Because she had sought out prosecutors soon after the Jan. 6 attack to enter an early guilty plea, a lawyer for Carla Krzywicki said the judge should give her a reduced sentence because of her “genuine remorse” on the “heartbreaking day.” Krzywicki revealed in court papers she had spoken with three investigators on the House select committee in March to describe her actions and motivation for participating, telling them she has never been a political activist and only attended so her mother would not travel alone.
“After a thorough and intense two hours of asking questions, the Attorney Investigator [James] Sasso stated, ‘Carla, you are a breath of fresh air. So many of the witnesses we have spoken to try to minimize their involvement,’” Heather Shaner said. “[Investigator] Sean Quinn stated his appreciation for her candor and honesty.”
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Krzywicki pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building after entering through a Senate wing door on Jan. 6 and remaining inside for 30 to 40 minutes, according to court records. As part of her plea deal, Krzywicki cooperated with law enforcement by providing access to social media accounts for prosecutors to investigate statements or posts published around the time of the riot.
The Connecticut resident arrived in Washington, D.C., with her mother on Jan. 6, 2021, after then-President Donald Trump’s rally had already ended. Krzywicki said she and her mother were caught up in the massive crowd headed toward the Capitol.
Krzywicki was not accused of destroying or stealing any property, prompting her lawyer to argue she should not receive the same sentence as those who did.
“Ms. Krzywicki’s culpability appears to be minimal in contrast with rioters who destroyed or stole government property or who assaulted or threatened law enforcement officers,” Shaner said. “The Government characterizes the deletion of a single Facebook post by Carla — as her trying to conceal evidence. That is not correct. Carla deleted this single post when she looked at it and no longer agreed with what she had written. She deleted it because she realized it was wrong.”
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Krzywicki is the fourth Jan. 6 defendant to interview with the Jan. 6 committee, including Annie Howell, Leonard Gruppo, and Jack Griffith.
She will receive her sentence from U.S. District Court Chief Judge Beryl Howell, who has maintained that Jan. 6 defendants should cooperate with House investigators, which could be considered during sentencing.
