Ruben Arthur Camacho, 24, of Woodbridge, New York, has been sentenced to 48 hours of community service for assaulting a female Capitol police officer during a pro-Palestinian demonstration outside the Democratic National headquarters in Washington, D.C., on Nov. 15, court records show.
Police said Camacho slammed the officer against a wall and punched her in the face during the “ceasefire” riot. He was charged with one count of assault on a police officer, a felony offense, and also resisted arrest and blocked an exit used by federal lawmakers during the incident, according to court documents.
Camacho was prosecuted by U.S. Attorney Matthew Graves in D.C. Superior Court, escaping federal prosecution. U.S. Capitol Police reported that six officers were injured during the riot.
The case has drawn attention to the apparent discrepancy in the treatment of defendants involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, with some commentators arguing that Camacho’s sentence demonstrates a two-tiered system of justice. Jan. 6 defendants charged with assaulting police have received prison sentences of up to 10 years, while Camacho’s case was handled locally with a comparatively lenient sentence.
The Biden administration reportedly does not plan on charging any ceasefire activists in federal court, with all charges remaining local.
