John Earle Sullivan, a 29-year-old Utah man who operated under the alias “Jayden X” and identified himself as a journalist and Black Lives Matter supporter, has been convicted on all charges related to his involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. The jury reached a verdict after a few hours of deliberation on Thursday, finding Sullivan guilty on seven counts, including felony obstruction of an official proceeding and civil disorder.
Following the verdict, federal prosecutors requested that John Earle Sullivan be immediately detained. U.S. District Judge Royce C. Lamberth granted the request, and Sullivan was remanded into custody pending his sentencing.
John Earle Sullivan, also known as Jayden X, after being convicted on all charges related to the January 6th Capitol riot.
During the trial, John Earle Sullivan’s own footage from January 6th played a central role. He notably filmed the fatal shooting of Ashli Babbitt, a video he subsequently sold to numerous media organizations, including NBC News. In his testimony, Sullivan maintained that he was merely present as an observer, stating, “I was only observing… I followed the crowd. I’m there to document.”
However, the prosecution argued that Sullivan’s claim of being a journalist was a facade. They presented video evidence showing him actively encouraging the mob on January 6th. Prosecutors highlighted Sullivan’s statements captured on video, such as, “I’m gonna side with anyone who is ready to rip this s— down,” and “I brought my megaphone to instigate s—.” In another video, Sullivan expressed his intention to “make those Trump supporters f— s— up.”
The government depicted John Earle Sullivan as an “anti-establishment” opportunist and agent of chaos, whose aim during the Capitol attack was to incite violence and destruction. They argued that his actions went far beyond simple observation and constituted active participation in the riot.
John Earle Sullivan is among over 1,200 individuals charged in connection with the Capitol riot. More than 400 have already received sentences involving periods of imprisonment. “Sedition Hunters,” online investigators, estimate that approximately 1,000 more individuals involved in the events of January 6th have been identified but are yet to be charged.
Judge Lamberth has not yet set a date for John Earle Sullivan’s sentencing hearing. He now faces the consequences of his conviction on multiple felony and misdemeanor charges related to the Capitol riot.
