Massachusetts Doctor Sentenced for Assaulting Officer in U.S. Capitol Riot
A Massachusetts physician, Jacquelyn Starer, was sentenced to nine months in prison, followed by nine months of home confinement, for her role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. Starer, 70, was among the rioters who stormed the Capitol, where she struck a police officer with a closed fist during the chaotic events of that day.
Apology and Admission of Guilt
Starer, who practiced addiction medicine before her arrest, expressed profound regret for her actions during the sentencing hearing, telling U.S. District Judge Timothy Kelly, “I accept full responsibility for my actions that day, and I truly wish reason had prevailed over my emotions.” She also personally apologized to the officer she assaulted, who had fought to defend the Capitol amid a mob of Donald Trump supporters.
The officer, identified only by her initials, expressed deep concerns for her safety during the attack, telling the court, “I feared for my life as we fought to hold the line.”
The Assault and Riot Involvement
On January 6, 2021, Starer attended the “Stop the Steal” rally, a gathering of Donald Trump supporters near the White House who believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen, before joining the mob that breached the Capitol. Entering through the Rotunda doors, she was part of a group that tried to push past officers guarding access to then-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office. In the confrontation, Starer punched a police officer after being pushed back by the officer, an act that was caught on a police body camera.
Prosecutors highlighted that the assault escalated tensions, causing other rioters to charge at the police line. Starer’s attorneys argued that her punch was a reaction to the push and was not motivated by the officer’s role, explaining that she was frustrated with another rioter who was trying to hold her back in an attempt to de-escalate the situation.
Sentencing and Impact
Starer pleaded guilty to eight charges, including felony assault. Prosecutors had recommended a 27-month prison sentence, but the judge sentenced her to nine months of imprisonment followed by home confinement. During the sentencing, Judge Kelly compared Starer’s rush toward the police line to a “heat-seeking missile,” questioning her motives and the broader threat posed to members of Congress that day.
Following the riot, Starer agreed to cease practicing medicine in Massachusetts, leaving a significant void in her life, according to her attorneys. They acknowledged that she likely would not return to the profession she had dedicated her life to.
Starer’s case is part of a larger effort to hold accountable those involved in the Capitol riot. This effort has seen nearly 1,500 people charged with federal crimes related to the riot, with over 900 convictions and sentences ranging from brief imprisonments to over two decades behind bars.