Montana Man Sentenced for Involvement in U.S. Capitol Breach
WASHINGTON—On October 10, 2024, Henry Phillip “Hank” Muntzer from Dillon, Montana, received a prison sentence following his conviction on charges linked to the January 6, 2021, breach of the U.S. Capitol. His actions, along with those of other individuals, disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress that was in the process of certifying the electoral votes for the 2020 presidential election.
U.S. District Judge Jia M. Cobb sentenced Muntzer, 55, to 24 months in prison and 12 months of supervised release. Muntzer was also ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution.
Muntzer faced convictions for obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder—both felony charges—following a bench trial led by Judge Cobb. In addition to the felonies, Muntzer was found guilty of four misdemeanor offenses: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds, disorderly conduct in a Capitol building, and parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a Capitol building.
Before sentencing, the government, referencing the Supreme Court’s decision in Fischer v. United States, requested a dismissal of Muntzer’s obstruction of an official proceeding conviction. Consequently, Judge Cobb sentenced Muntzer on one felony count of civil disorder and the four misdemeanors.
Evidence presented at the trial revealed that Muntzer traveled from Montana to Washington, D.C., to attend the “Stop the Steal” rally at the Ellipse on January 6, 2021. After the rally, he proceeded to the Capitol grounds, joining the crowd that breached the perimeter. Muntzer entered the Capitol’s West Plaza and ascended the northwest stairs, reaching the Upper West Terrace by 2:35 p.m.
Upon reaching the Upper West Terrace, Muntzer recorded videos claiming he had passed “through all the tear gas” to “tak[e] the Capitol by storm.” He entered the Capitol building at around 2:44 p.m.
Once inside, Muntzer moved through the Rotunda towards the Senate Chamber. In a hallway outside the Old Senate Chamber, he participated in a push against law enforcement officers. By 2:55 p.m., Muntzer was back in the Rotunda, confronting police officers blocking a doorway. He positioned himself at the forefront of the crowd, contributing to pushes that led to at least one officer falling down stairs.
Police began efforts to clear the Rotunda by approximately 3:03 p.m., forming a line and directing rioters to exit through the East Rotunda Door. Muntzer, however, resisted these efforts and was among the last rioters to leave, exiting at about 3:22 p.m.
Muntzer was arrested on January 18, 2021, by the FBI.
The prosecution of this case was managed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice’s National Security Division’s Counterterrorism Section, with support from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Montana.
The investigation was conducted by the FBI’s Salt Lake City Field Office, Helena Resident Agency, and Washington Field Office, with assistance from the United States Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.
In the 45 months following the events of January 6, 2021, over 1,532 individuals have been charged across nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the Capitol breach. This includes more than 571 individuals charged with felony offenses for assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation remains ongoing.
