A man who took part in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol and bragged about assaulting a police officer is being released from prison after serving his time. Brian Christopher Mock, a 45-year-old from Minnesota, was resentenced by Chief U.S. District Judge James Boasberg on Friday. This decision follows a Supreme Court ruling that changed how certain charges could be applied to January 6th defendants.
Mock was originally sentenced to 33 months in prison back in February, along with 24 months of supervised release and fines totaling $2,710. However, one of his convictions, for obstructing an official proceeding, was overturned after the Supreme Court found it had been wrongly applied.
Mock’s role in the Capitol riot wasn’t minor. Prosecutors say he repeatedly attacked police officers who were trying to keep rioters from storming the building. He was caught on body camera footage shoving one officer to the ground and kicking him while another rioter held the officer’s legs. Mock also passed stolen riot shields to other rioters and helped corner officers.
According to federal documents, Mock didn’t just participate in the violence—he celebrated it afterward. He posted on Facebook just two days after the riot, saying he’d gone to the Capitol prepared for anything, even the possibility of not returning home to his four children. Witnesses told investigators that Mock had bragged about his actions, saying he had “beaten the s— out of a police officer.”
In the weeks leading up to January 6, Mock had been vocal about his belief that the 2020 election was stolen and that violence was necessary to stop “tyrants” and “Socialists” from taking power. He shared these views on social media, in texts with his best friend, and even in conversations with his oldest son. Prosecutors argued that Mock knew Congress would be certifying the Electoral College results that day and wanted to stop it—by force, if necessary.
Mock wasn’t alone in his defiance. His girlfriend also shared their experience online, boasting about being tear-gassed multiple times but standing firm for what they believed was a patriotic cause. Photos from their trip to Washington, D.C., showed them sightseeing at landmarks like the World War II Memorial before joining the riot.
Witnesses who knew Mock described him as a “radical” and expressed fears about his willingness to engage in violent protests. One person even shared text messages where Mock admitted to his actions at the Capitol.
During his resentencing, Mock’s public defender, A.J. Kramer, argued for his release. Kramer highlighted Mock’s positive behavior while in prison and revealed that Mock has been diagnosed with cancer. He described Mock as remorseful and asked the court to consider the time he had already served.
In the end, the court agreed to release Mock on time served. While his actions on January 6th caused harm and chaos, his case serves as a reminder of the ongoing legal and personal consequences for those who took part in the attack on the Capitol.
