A family from Borger, Texas who participated in the January 6, 2021 insurrection were all sentenced together at a hearing on Wednesday.
Six members of the Munn family—parents Dawn and Tomas, three adult children and one minor child—entered the Capitol through a broken window during the attempted coup according to court documents. While they were in the building, they also entered a private Senate conference room.
Even while asking for leniency during her sentencing, mother Dawn Munn continued to question the security of the United States election process and presidential election results.
According to CNN, Dawn Munn claimed she was just looking for answers.
"I was looking for somebody to show me proof that our election was going to be secure."
"If we don’t have a secure election, we don’t have a country."
"This is a country by the voice of the people."
DC Chief Judge Beryl Howell told her it didn't justify violence.
"There is no question that can justify disrupting the democratic process"
Thomas Munn said he had never been political before, but felt the need to do something after watching the news and seeing what was happening.
"I just kept watching what was happening on the news, and I felt we should speak out."
When Munn was asked where he was getting this news that motivated him to go to DC on January 6, he unsurprisingly replied:
"Fox News."
In addition to his actions on the day of the insurrection, Thomas Munn shared social media posts encouraging others to also make plans to travel to Washington DC on that day. Several members of the family also posted about their involvement in the attack on various social media platforms.
The parents were reprimanded by Judge Howell for bringing four of their eight children to Washington. Dawn and Thomas Munn were sentenced to 14 days in jail. Their adult children—Kayli, Joshua and Kristi—were sentenced to probation and home confinement.
Twitter users seemed unimpressed with the Munn's sentences.
\u201c@Brasilmagic Slap on the wrist. No doubt they\u2019re laughing.\u201d— Defund the GQP (@Defund the GQP) 1665705347
\u201c@Brasilmagic 14 days!? \ud83e\udd28\u201d— Defund the GQP (@Defund the GQP) 1665705347
\u201cEvery single member of the Munn Jan. 6th family should have at least, at the minimum, gotten 60 days in jail!\u201d— David #ProChoice & LGBTQ+ (@David #ProChoice & LGBTQ+) 1665589489
\u201c@wfaa Probation?? Traitorous insurrectionist barely get a slap on the wrists now? That's what's wrong with our country\u201d— WFAA (@WFAA) 1665741613
\u201c@Wavey_LuVgod23 @CNN They don\u2019t seem to feel any regret about what they did. \n 14 days will just make them victim/heroes in their own minds\u201d— CNN (@CNN) 1665625207
Some were concerned the light sentencing would encourage the Munns to participate in further attempts to overthrow the U.S. government.
\u201c@NaturalAwesome1 @MacFarlaneNews Yeah, even at the sentencing hearing where one would be well served to say they were wrong about everything, the mom was still asking that the government prove that elections are secure\u201d— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1665595175
\u201c@MacFarlaneNews @Hoover5454 Doesn't seem worth the public's tax dollars being used to pass this kind of sentencing. What are sentencing guidelines for white people who participate in a coup attempt? Versus low level pot offenders...\u201d— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1665595175
The Munn family reportedly joined a protest outside the Washington DC jail the night of their sentencing.
\u201cAfter their sentencing hearing, the Munn family of Texas joined the nightly protest outside the Washington DC jail, where they were greeted with cheers and chants of "Munn, Munn, Munn!"\n\nOne family member talked of the pride they have in "being part of this movement"\u201d— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1665760251
\u201cSo the Munn family, who were just sentenced this morning, decided to attend tonight's #J6Loser vigil. Definitely have learned their lessons. \ud83d\ude44 #1776RM #1776RestorationMovement\u201d— Jane (@Jane) 1665623401
\u201c@JacksonGilder I'm sure she was just doing her own research. \ud83d\ude1c\u201d— Jane (@Jane) 1665623401
\u201c@MacFarlaneNews Good to hear the whole entire family is sorry for their actions. \ud83d\ude44\u201d— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1665760251
\u201c@MacFarlaneNews The Munns were given probabtion as a part of their sentence package.\nTheir conduct here (no remorse) should be taken into account by the Judge and the custodial sentences should be extended until they respect the Courts and the Rule of law.\u201d— Scott MacFarlane (@Scott MacFarlane) 1665760251
The five adult members of the family plead guilty to misdemeanor charges of parading and demonstrating or picketing inside a Capitol building.
While the parents were both sentenced to serve 14 days imprisonment, 3 years probation and 90 days of home detention their adult children received lesser sentences.
Kristi Munn, their eldest daughter, was sentenced to 3 years of probation with 90 days of home detention.
Josh and Kayli Munn each received 3 years of probation without home detention and their minor sibling was not charged with any crime.