Florida Man Pleads Guilty For Jan. 6 Insurrection As DeSantis Downplays Events 'Media Had Spun Up'

Anthony Sargent, a Florida man, pleaded guilty to participating in the Jan. 6 insurrection, a day when Governor Ron DeSantis referred to the events as a mere “protest” that unfortunately devolved.

What Happened: Sargent admitted to a felony count of civil disorder and six misdemeanor charges in a District of Columbia federal court, The Independent reported.

On the same day, DeSantis, a GOP presidential hopeful, made headlines for downplaying the Jan. 6 events during a podcast interview. He rejected the notion that the day’s events were an attempt to overthrow the U.S. government, dismissing it as a media exaggeration.

See Also: Jan. 6 Investigation: Former Trump Campaign Official Cooperating In Fake Elector Probe

During a podcast interview on Friday with comedian Russell Brand, DeSantis said the idea that Jan. 6 "was a plan to somehow overthrow the government of the United States is not true, and it's something that the media had spun up."

Why It Matters: DeSantis’ comments align with other Republicans who have backed Trump in the Jan. 6 probe. While some Republicans, like Kevin McCarthy and Vivek Ramaswamy, have defended Trump and opposed the idea of his indictment, others, like Mike Pence, have condemned Trump’s role but do not support criminal charges.

The potential third indictment against Trump could significantly impact his political future, including his potential bid for the 2024 presidential election. The trials could also impact Trump's availability for presidential debates and on the campaign trail for the 2024 election.

Read Next: GOP Presidential Candidate Dismisses Trump’s Role In Jan. 6 Riots, Blames Censorship Instead